The New Terminal One at JFK: A blueprint for innovative airport terminal design

The New Terminal One at JFK International Airport is being built with a clear mandate: design a terminal that stays ahead of technology, embraces innovation, and supports the continued growth in international travel, as part of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s historic redevelopment of JFK Airport. Central to the New Terminal One’s vision is a close partnership with federal agencies and a deep understanding of their respective missions to ensure that innovation strengthens both security and operational efficiency.

Airports and federal agencies alike face a shared challenge: global travel demand is growing faster than the industry’s ability to hire personnel and expand physical infrastructure. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) confront this reality every day at the nation’s airports. In response, both agencies have made significant advances in recent years, deploying new technologies and operational processes that streamline traveller processing while allowing officers to focus more of their time on their core security missions.

New Terminal One presents a unique opportunity to explore how recent TSA innovations can further modernise the checkpoint experience.”

At New Terminal One, we have benefited from those innovations and endeavour to take them a step further in partnership with federal agencies. By designing the terminal around modern processing concepts from the outset, we aim to create an environment where technology, infrastructure, and operations work together to support both security and efficiency. For travellers, this means a more seamless and intuitive journey, one where identity verification and screening processes are integrated naturally into the flow of the terminal, reducing friction and uncertainty while allowing passengers to spend less time waiting and more time enjoying the world-class guest experience at the New Terminal One.

In partnership with CBP, New Terminal One will be fully equipped with Enhanced Passenger Processing (EPP). This approach leverages biometric identity verification to streamline the initial processing of arriving travellers, enabling CBP officers to focus more of their time and attention on higher-risk travellers. Importantly, EPP does not diminish CBP’s authority—officers retain full discretion to inspect any traveller as required to carry out their mission.

Under the leadership of Diane Sabatino, Executive Assistant Commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Office of Field Operations, CBP’s airport modernisation strategy has accelerated the deployment of new technologies that reduce the administrative burden on officers and allow them to focus on their core enforcement capabilities. In practice, this means fewer officers positioned behind traditional inspection booths and a more precise enforcement posture that directs resources toward travellers who require additional screening.

Because EPP represents a meaningful leap forward in passenger facilitation and processing efficiency, New Terminal One was able to work with CBP to design an arrivals hall that requires fewer traditional inspection booths. This approach allows the space to be used more efficiently while still supporting CBP’s mission and delivering a more seamless arrivals experience for international travellers.

Looking ahead, New Terminal One is committed to continuing to push the envelope in partnership with CBP by exploring new pilots and operational concepts that further modernise the international arrivals experience. By testing emerging technologies and innovative processing models, the terminal aims to enhance passenger facilitation while maintaining the highest standards of border security.

This milestone reflects not only the ambition of the project, but also the strength of the partnerships that have shaped it.”

New Terminal One has also worked closely with the TSA to ensure the terminal is equipped with some of the most advanced security screening technology available. The terminal will deploy next-generation computed tomography (CT) screening systems, which enhance detection capabilities while improving the efficiency of the screening process. In collaboration with TSA, New Terminal One is also supporting the deployment of newer operational concepts, including remote screening capabilities designed to increase throughput and allow officers to manage screening operations more effectively.

As an international terminal serving millions of global travellers, New Terminal One presents a unique opportunity to explore how recent TSA innovations can further modernise the checkpoint experience. This includes examining how automated identity verification technologies, such as e-gates and biometric-enabled processes, could support or automate the traditional travel document checker function. By integrating these emerging concepts into the design of the terminal, New Terminal One aims to support TSA’s mission while delivering a more seamless and predictable experience for passengers.

WhenNew Terminal One opens later this year, it will be among the first airport terminals in the United States designed from the outset to incorporate many of these next-generation innovations in border processing and security screening. This milestone reflects not only the ambition of the project, but also the strength of the partnerships that have shaped it. Through close collaboration and a shared understanding of the critical missions carried out by our federal partners, New Terminal One has been able to align terminal design, technology, and operations in ways that support both security and facilitation.

As we look toward future development, we remain committed to continuing this approach: driving innovation and exploring new opportunities to enhance the customer experience while supporting the vital missions of our federal partners. By maintaining this collaborative model, New Terminal One aims to ensure that the terminal continues to evolve alongside the future of international travel. 

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