A $10 Billion Overhaul of New York’s JFK Airport Isn’t Going to Fix Its Biggest Problem
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has a big vision to transform JFK Airport. Courtesy Gov. Andrew Cuomo
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“You look at airports all across the globe and one is better than the next,” says New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. “They are all ahead of where we are.”
New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport—which receives more international passenger traffic than any other in the US—is racing against the clock. Within a decade, the airport will reach full capacity, according to New York governor Andrew Cuomo.
To help remedy the current and future congestion around one of New York’s airports that president-elect Donald Trump has classified as “third world,” the governor on Jan. 4 unveiled a $10 billion plan for a revamp. “You look at airports all across the globe and one is better than the next,” lamented Cuomo. “They are all ahead of where we are.”
JFK ranked 59th in Skytrax survey of the best 100 airports worldwide, a list that was topped by Singapore’s Changi airport. (Anyone who has traveled widely will be surprised it made the top 100.)
New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport—which receives more international passenger traffic than any other in the US—is racing against the clock. Within a decade, the airport will reach full capacity, according to New York governor Andrew Cuomo.
To help remedy the current and future congestion around one of New York’s airports that president-elect Donald Trump has classified as “third world,” the governor on Jan. 4 unveiled a $10 billion plan for a revamp. “You look at airports all across the globe and one is better than the next,” lamented Cuomo. “They are all ahead of where we are.”
JFK ranked 59th in Skytrax survey of the best 100 airports worldwide, a list that was topped by Singapore’s Changi airport. (Anyone who has traveled widely will be surprised it made the top 100.)
But don’t get too excited yet. They are only “exploring the feasibility” of it, which means that they haven’t even committed to looking at options.
And in any case, you shouldn’t hold your breath. We know how long other public works projects have taken New York. Meanwhile, the French have recently approved a new train that will take you from Charles de Gaulle airport to Paris in 20 minutes from 2023.
Leslie Josephs is a reporter for Quartz, where this article was originally published.
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