NEW YORK -- American Airlines, the world's largest carrier, last week opened the final phase of its massive new terminal at New York John F. Kennedy.
The $1.3 billion, 36-gate terminal, parts of which have been used since 2005, dramatically expands American's capacity at one of its busiest airports.
The terminal -- called Terminal 9 for now -- significantly broadened its operations in May when it opened its new customs area and began servicing international flights. A new Flagship Lounge for first-class passengers and a new Admirals Club for paid members also opened this summer.
Terminal 9 embraces some of the recent terminal-layout trends, joining a few other domestic airports that have designed their check-in areas to minimize crowds and ease the passenger flow to security checkpoints. Designed to resemble an airplane wing, the 89,000-square-foot lobby has large windows and 65-foot-tall ceilings, giving it an open, airy feel.
Eighty-four check-in desks take the place of traditional ticket counters. The desks are in rows perpendicular to the entrance, unlike most older domestic airports where the counters are parallel to entrance doors. Terminal 9 passengers line up in the large areas in between the check-in rows, spreading out the crowd.
Security checkpoints are located directly at the end of -- and visible from -- the check-in stations, allowing "easy flow of passengers," says American executive Laura Einspanier. "It's an easy airport to navigate."
Each desk has its own automated baggage belts, speeding up the process by eliminating the need for agents to share. There are 44 self-service kiosks in a separate area in the lobby, where a few agents will be stationed to help customers check bags. Nearby is another ticketing area just for premium-class passengers.
