Air India has been evaluating its new home at New York JFK, which is why it has not yet signed off on the new Maharaja Club at New York, while the old Air India Lounge at T4 is being refreshed for the time being. The various redevelopments at New York JFK were under consideration, and now the airline has made a decision.
Air India has announced that it will shift its operations at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to the airport’s brand-new Terminal 6 (T6) when the facility is fully completed in 2028. The move will see the airline leave Terminal 4, its home at JFK for many years, in favour of one of the flagship projects in the airport’s ongoing USD 19 billion transformation.
The announcement makes Air India one of the latest airlines to commit to the new terminal, which is expected to become home to several international carriers, including a number of Star Alliance airlines.
Air India bets on JFK’s newest terminal
Under the agreement announced today, Air India will relocate all of its JFK operations to Terminal 6 once the facility is fully operational in 2028. Until then, the airline will continue to operate from Terminal 4.
The move is expected to significantly enhance the passenger experience for Air India’s premium-heavy New York operation. The airline currently serves JFK from both Delhi and Mumbai, with Delhi operated by its flagship Airbus A350-900 featuring the airline’s newest cabins, while Mumbai continues to see Boeing 777-300ER service. The New York routes are among Air India’s most important long-haul markets, carrying a mix of business travellers, VFR traffic and connecting passengers.
Air India said Terminal 6 will provide passengers with shorter walking distances, modern biometric-enabled processing, an extensive retail and dining offering, and improved premium facilities as part of the airport’s redevelopment programme.
Campbell Wilson of Air India with George Casey Chair of JMP and Vantage Group
Leaving behind Terminal 4
For most Indian travellers, Terminal 4 has become synonymous with Air India’s operations at JFK, since its move in 2001. The terminal is currently one of JFK’s busiest international gateways, handling a mix of SkyTeam, Star Alliance and independent international airlines. It is also Delta Air Lines’ primary international hub at the airport, resulting in heavy passenger volumes throughout the day. Terminal 4 currently serves nearly 50 gates and hosts carriers including Singapore Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Virgin Atlantic, KLM, Air India and many others.
While Terminal 4 has undergone several upgrades over the years and offers a good range of lounges and retail options, it remains one of the airport’s busiest terminals, with long walking distances and congestion during peak departure periods. Air India’s move will therefore place it in a much newer facility purpose-built as part of JFK’s redevelopment.
What is Terminal 6?
Terminal 6 is one of the centrepieces of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s massive redevelopment of JFK Airport.
Built on the site once occupied by the original Terminal 6 (famously designed by architect I.M. Pei and later home to JetBlue before being demolished in 2011), the new terminal is an entirely new facility rather than a renovation of its predecessor. Construction began in 2023, with the first phase opening in 2026 and the complete terminal expected to be operational in 2028.
When complete, Terminal 6 will feature 10 gates, nine of which will be capable of accommodating widebody aircraft. It will connect seamlessly with JetBlue’s Terminal 5, allowing easier transfers between the two facilities. Passengers can expect expansive floor-to-ceiling windows, automated security screening, digital check-in and baggage systems, premium lounges, curated New York-inspired food and beverage outlets, and significantly shorter average walking distances compared to older terminals.
The terminal has already attracted commitments from a growing list of international airlines, including Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, ANA, Air Canada, Cathay Pacific, Aer Lingus, Kuwait Airways and several others, making it an increasingly important Star Alliance gateway at JFK.
Building on the recent opening of its signature Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco International Airport, Air India will further expand its premium ground experience in North America with the launch of its first flagship Maharaja Lounge at JFK Terminal 6. Spanning 9,100 square feet in a prime post-security location overlooking the terminal’s vibrant commercial concourse, the lounge will bring Air India’s distinctive blend of Indian hospitality, comfort, and world-class amenities to customers on both coasts of the United States.
Rendering of New York JFK T6
A premium experience in line with Air India’s transformation
The announcement also fits neatly into Air India’s broader transformation strategy. Over the past two years, the airline has invested heavily in upgrading its premium product, introducing Airbus A350s, refreshing its soft product, modernising lounges and embarking on a fleet retrofit programme. Moving into one of the newest airport terminals in North America aligns with that effort by ensuring that the on-ground experience matches the improvements passengers now see onboard.
For travellers originating in India, especially those flying the airline’s flagship A350 between Delhi and New York, the move should create a more seamless end-to-end journey once Terminal 6 is fully operational.
The relocation is still around two years away, but it signals Air India’s intention to position itself alongside many of its global alliance partners in one of JFK’s newest and most technologically advanced terminals.
Bottomline
Air India will relocate its New York JFK operations from Terminal 4 to the brand-new Terminal 6 when the latter is fully completed in 2028. While passengers will continue using Terminal 4 until then, the eventual move will place the airline in one of the airport’s most modern facilities, complete with upgraded passenger amenities, premium lounges and improved connectivity with other international carriers. For Air India, it is another visible step in aligning its airport experience with the broader transformation currently underway across the airline.
What do you think of Air India’s move to the new terminal? Much needed, I think so
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