New York John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) is currently undergoing a major redevelopment. As part of this, in 2026, we’re supposed to see the opening of the new Terminal One and Terminal 6 (I know the inconsistent branding is strange, but it’s called “Terminal One” to differentiate it from the existing Terminal 1, which is undergoing a redevelopment).
Anyway, Qatar Airways has just made what I’d consider to be a pretty exciting announcement for those flying with the airline from New York…
Qatar Airways will relocate to JFK Terminal One
Qatar Airways will be moving to JFK Airport Terminal One, once the facility opens in 2026. The terminal will have 13 gates in its first phase, but eventually, it will have 23 gates. Once complete, terminal will have a footprint of 2.4 million square feet, including 300,000 square feet of retail, dining, and lounge space.
In terms of passenger experience, Qatar Airways has plans to open its own lounge in the terminal. The lounge is expected to be around 15,000 square feet, and it will be Qatar Airways’ first-ever dedicated lounge in the United States. Qatar Airways’ outstation lounges are phenomenal, and this one is even expected to offer access to the boarding gate directly from the lounge.
Qatar Airways operates up to three daily flights to New York, on a combination of Airbus A350s and Boeing 777s.
Here’s what Qatar Airways CEO Badr Mohammed Al Meer had to say about the terminal move and new lounge (though I’m not sure what the “dedicated airport transfers” comment is in reference to):
“We, at Qatar Airways, look forward to launching our operations at JFK Airport’s New Terminal One and welcoming Qatar Airways Business Class passengers to our first-ever exclusive lounge in the US. Our new state-of-the-art lounge will provide an enhanced experience at each touchpoint and complement our industry-leading Business Class travel experience. From dedicated airport transfers to VIP check-in to the finest of retail and dining options, premium passengers will be offered the World’s Best service at New Terminal One.”
“Our move demonstrates the evolution of Qatar Airways’ long-standing commitment to connecting global travellers to New York and expanding our services in the destination integral to our network in the US.”
2026 is going to be an absolutely massive year for JFK, as it’s expected that roughly 50 airlines will be moving their terminals, which makes up roughly two-thirds of the airlines flying to the airport.
Is Qatar Airways’ move to JFK Terminal One a good thing?
Qatar Airways currently operates from JFK Terminal 8, which is also the terminal used primarily by American. So, as customers, should we look forward to the move to JFK Terminal One? I have a few thoughts:
- JFK Terminal 8 is probably my favorite of the existing terminals at JFK in terms of it being a modern facility that’s not overcrowded; the Greenwich Lounge and the Soho Lounge that Qatar Airways currently sends passengers to are both pretty solid
- JFK Terminal One should be pretty snazzy, so for those simply originating or terminating in New York, the move will almost certainly be good news, as this really should be a “next generation” experience, similar to what we’ve seen with the transformation at LaGuardia (LGA)
- The move isn’t great in terms of connections between American and Qatar Airways, since getting between Terminal 8 and Terminal One will require taking the AirTrain landside
- For a while it looked like JFK Terminal 8 would really become a consolidated oneworld hub, though with the new terminals opening, it’s understandable that airlines are moving to new terminals where they can offer a better experience, dedicated lounges, and more
Bottom line
Qatar Airways has announced that it plans to move to JFK Terminal One in 2026. Not only that, but the airline will be opening a roughly 15,000 square foot lounge, which should be exceptional. The lounge will even offer direct access to the jet bridge for Qatar Airways flights.
However, with Qatar Airways leaving Terminal 8, that also means that connections to and from American will be a bit more complicated.
What do you make of Qatar Airways moving to JFK Terminal One?
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