Terminal 8
Terminal 1 is currently an awkward stub-end station of AirTrain serviced by dedicated Shuttle trains to and from Terminal 7, or a station that was simply closed from May 1, 2023 until late November 2023 requiring everyone to use shuttle buses to and from the Terminal (with buses from Terminal 7 or Terminal 4). This is because the AirTrain Central Terminal Loop has been severed and cut into two pieces after the closer of Terminal 2 in January 2023. This was done to allow for the building of the massive new Terminal One in its place, directly on the current AirTrain tracks (AirTrain will eventually have an in-terminal One station like at Terminal 4). As of November 2023, other than the fact that the tracks lead into a massive construction site just beyond the station’s island platform. As of 2024the station stop feels remarkably similar to when it opened in 2003.
The present Terminal 1 is owned by a partnership of four different International Airlines: Air France, Japan Airlines (left in May 2023 to join American in Terminal 8), Korean Air, and Lufthansa. These 4 airlines are joined by a variety (22 as of February 2024) of different International Airlines from all three major alliances (only Royal Air Morac from OneWorld as the rest have joined American Airlines in Terminal 8 that isn’t being fully utilized) and a variety of unaffiliated airlines. The terminal replaced the former Eastern Airlines Terminal. The lack of a clear Airline alliance at this terminal (or any JFK Terminal, except for Terminal 8) is because the terminal was built when Star Alliance was the only major airline alliance (formed in 1997) with OneWorld being created in 1999, SkyTeam in 2000 as a way to provide relief to the then overcrowded International Arrivals Building. A final fun fact about Terminal 1 is it’s the only airline terminal in the 50 United States to lack a domestic baggage claim, only servicing international flights and is the only place where you can grab and go Duty Free items in the United States since there are no comingling domestic passengers. At all other Duty Free stores in the United States, duty free is purchases are kept by the store before being handed out on the jet bridge after boarding. This terminal 1 replaced the original terminal that was the Eastern Airlines Terminal and was in operation from 1959 until it’s bankruptcy and closure in 1991 when it was closed and eventually demolished in 1995 replaced by the current terminal.
The station has the normal single island platform although on a visit in November 2023, sanctions to prevent passengers from going to what would be the area for a third AirTrain car at the very end of the platform. To leave the platform, there are two escalators near the northern (Terminal 7-bound) end of the platform plus two elevators beyond the northern end (and a staircase beyond these) that lead up a central circular atrium mezzanine. This atrium is complete with a ribbon of signage dating back to the advertisement campaign for the opening of the AirTrain in 2003, including signs for “Move Over Traffic”, “Welcome Aboard”, “Your Ride is Here", and “Make the Connection.” From here a passageway once continued into the Green Parking Garage which has been demolished (there is a white wall ceiling the former entrance off). Today there is only a connection to a skybridge with moving walkways. These lead to the AirTrain entrance inside the upper level of Terminal 1 where a single escalator, across from a combined staircase/escalator and two elevators lead down to the Departures Hall just below (and the elevators continue 2 stories down to the Arrivals Hall). A small food court (the largest one as of 2023 outside of security) is on the same level as the AirTrain but on the Opposite side of the Departures Hall and there is no same level connection between them.
Photos 1-30: November 24, 2023;
