New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) is currently undergoing a major redevelopment. As part of this, we’re supposed to see the opening of the new Terminal 6 in early 2026. While we’ve known that the terminal would be occupied by JetBlue, Lufthansa Group, and Aer Lingus, an additional airline has just been announced…
Continue reading: Cathay Pacific Moving To JFK Terminal 6, Opening Lounge
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Cathay Pacific lounges are consistently one of the best even in outstations like TPE or HND where they outshine the local carriers' own lounges. Or even LHR to be honest.
There'll certainly be high expectations for the JFK lounge, especially for a premium destination like NYC.
CX has actually turned around a lot of their financials and operations in recent times and are making a real comeback.
Another Cathay lounge is always welcome.
With all the major renovations underway at JFK, is there not even a rumor of an airside tram connection between all terminals?
There likely is little to no connectivity on CX to AA at JFK. It would also not surprise if CX eventually leaves OW.
Are Lingus also announced they will be moving to T6 and operating their own lounge too
@Ben
When is Cathay Pacific revealing their first 777-300ER with Aria suites? They said it will be revealed in Q2 of 2024. Q2 is coming to an end. Any update?
@ Nasir -- Unfortunately I haven't seen any updates, so it seems like the product is delayed. That's not surprising, between all the supply chain delays we've seen, plus the need for a new product to be certified.
"since getting between Terminal 6 and Terminal 8 will require taking the AirTrain landside"
On average, how bad of an experience is it to transfer between the 2? In terms of time and what you actually have to do...
Pretty bad, T8's AirTrain stop is quite a bit away, and given the construction it might be that T6's AirTrain stop will be at T5 until T7 fully shuts down and is replaced.
Ben, if only you had a crystal ball and could tell us when they're deployed on HKG-JFK, too
T5-T6 will be connected airside, T7 will be gone.
T1-T4 will be connected airside.
So three groupings of T1-T4, T5-T6, and T8. If all of the *A airlines move into T5-T6, or if the OW linkages between B6, CX and wherever AS goes, it's still roughly even.
The VAST majority of pax on these flights start/ end at JFK, very few, relatively speaking, are connecting to/from CX at JFK. CX cares about the overall experience for the majority of customers, and this new terminal delivers it, in their opinion. The relatively few people that connect to CX from AA or other airlines will simply have to take the train.
How "close" of a relationship does CX have with other OW members? I get there may not be many connection opportunities, but I would think all the OW members under one roof (i.e. - Terminal 8) would create some synergy?
Cathay and LH have been getting cozy of late. On Miles&More i've been seeing lots of award availabilty between Europe and HKG which wasn't the case months before. Even in First class from LHR. The airlines have for a couple of years been codesharing on flights to HKG and Australia.
I think people underestimate that the airline alliances are mostly just marketing partnerships. Joint Ventures are what provide synergies and incentives for airlines to align operations (hence why BA and AA co-locate and share lounges). Airlines in an alliance still remain and operate as separate companies with their own strategies in mind. Sure, if they are members of the same alliance, an airline will accept elites at its lounge from another airline for reimbursement at pre-negotiated rate. But, Cathay most likely views NYC as an O/D market for the most part and therefore is competing against all airlines, including its oneworld partners (namely JAL and AA) for passengers to HKG and beyond. So having its own facilities it controls benefits it in keeping its customers happiest.
Just like their move from Terminal 1 to 4 at SIN, they seem to want to be on their own with their own lounge space, etc. in a much smaller space. Lufthansa will also be one of the first customers for the 779 and Terminal 6 will probably be one of the first if not first terminal to handle 779 service (Emirates uses 4 at JFK), so it'll be a good way to get feedback and experience on how the 779 handles in and out of the terminal as well as the ground crew, etc.
As far as the Aria Suites are concerned, my guess would be once the 779s start coming in, the 77Ws will be supplemented on an additional frequency in addition to the 779 on premium routes like LHR, LAX, CDG, etc.
Aside from the fact that most of the traffic if O&D, JFK is not the ideal transfer point for anyone flying from HKG to another point in North America or even the Americas in general anyway. You can reach most of those places via AA from a connection at SFO/LAX/ORD more efficiently.
With Air China's investment in CX (30%), what are the chances CX leaving OW and join STAR? CX might not have long term plans with OW.
In the latest press release about Skytrax ranking, CX mentioned the Aria Suite will come out "later this year." It also mentioned the new flat-bed business class for A330 coming out in 2026; however, it didn't say the A330-300 or possibly new order that may happen for A330NEO.
Bit of a bizarre move IMO. Love Cathay lounges. But OneWorld should just invest together in Terminal 8. Don’t see how this makes financial sense. Looking forward to the lounge, though.
Air China has had that stake for a long time without Cathay switching alliances (and Swire, Cathay's owner, has an interlocking equal stake in Air China).
and for O&D this is amazing -- new terminal, great new lounge, better and more modern experience. Once completed Cathay will be miles ahead of all the other major Asian airlines at JFK as well. SQ for example, for all of their claims of premiumness, still uses contract lounges (including the frankly terrible Air India Maharaja lounge). so brilliant move by CX execs
This feels like the same strategy they have at SIN, being tucked away in the (newer) T4, different from all other OW airlines (mainly T1, MH is T2), but it gives CX their signature lounge. Most other T4 airlines are budget carriers.
I assume there's some financial incentives for taking less connected space.
It will make AA to CX less efficient but B6 to CX more efficient. CX has just picked the side.
…and who in their right mind would choose AA over CX?
As a DC denizen, I’ll happily fly CX to an AA JFK connection than take AA on any long haul segments.
I'm hoping a move to T6 hints at more airside connections as well.
Probably too optimistic, but a girl can hole.
Atleast it doesn't have indoor portapotties. I'm looking at you EWR domestic Term B.
I think you misunderstood the post. @USUKHKflyer means that CX pax could more easily connect to AA domestic at LAX/SFO/ORD rather than overflying the country to JFK just to back track to Vegas or wherever. He is not suggesting HK pax to fly AA internationally... especially since AA suspended those flights with the covid onset.
I think this is an indirect confirmation that Cathay Pacific will move to Star Alliance. They won't be with Oneworld for long.
Unlike the rest of the world, the US doesn’t make flight connection simple and easy, even within one terminal. Cathay must have make this decision based on the fact that most HKG-JFK traffic is point to point or connection beyond HKG. AA/BA also charges them a lot for using their lounges at T8 now. Very smart and logical move for Cathay. They will offer the best passenger experience of all airlines out of JFK for sure.
100% agree with you. I had to use that lounge one time when traveling on Singapore airlines. Worst experience ever.