The New Terminal One at JFK Airport said on Sept. 22, 2025 that it hired Ethos Farm Americas to manage guest services at the $9.5 billion terminal under construction in Queens.
Ethos Farm will recruit and oversee staff charged with passenger support during peak travel and flight disruptions. The appointment expands the firm’s earlier role designing the terminal’s guest-experience training program as the project moves toward a first-phase opening in 2026.
The terminal, scheduled for full completion in 2030, will total about 2.6 million square feet and include 23 gates when finished.
The New Terminal One is the largest element of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey’s $19 billion overhaul of JFK.
“Partnering with Ethos Farm Americas ensures that we are investing in people and innovation to redefine the global gateway experience,” New Terminal One vice president Marisa Von Wieding said in a statement.
The New Terminal One is being developed by a consortium of partners including Carlyle, JLC Infrastructure, and Ullico, with Ferrovial joining as a lead equity investor in 2022. AECOM Tishman is serving as the design-build contractor, while the terminal’s architecture is led by Gensler and design firm Mace. These firms are responsible for delivering the project’s signature look and large-scale construction, from the soaring arrivals hall to the flexible gate layouts. Siemens and other technology partners are also contributing to advanced systems for energy efficiency and passenger processing. The project is one of the many major airports in the USA currently undergoing terminal expansion to increase passenger traffic capacity.
$19 billion overhaul of JFK
Beyond the New Terminal One, the Port Authority’s $19 billion overhaul of JFK includes major redevelopments at Terminals 5 and 8.
Terminal 8 is in the midst of a $125 million commercial redevelopment, following a $400 million expansion completed in late 2022 that added new gates and modernized facilities for American Airlines and its partners. The latest project, led by American and Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield, will redesign the terminal’s Great Hall with new dining, retail, duty-free, and digitally enabled services. Public art installations are also planned, with contributions from Queens-based artists intended to root the terminal in its local community. Construction began in May 2024 and will continue in phases over the next several years.
Terminal 5, JetBlue’s flagship home, is also undergoing a comprehensive refresh designed to highlight New York’s identity. The redesign centers on the terminal’s central concourse, which will take on a park-inspired theme with greenery, open seating, and cultural programming such as live performances. More than 40 new concessions are planned, featuring a mix of local and national brands, alongside JetBlue’s first premium airport lounge, slated to open in late 2025. The entire upgrade is expected to be finished by the end of 2026.
Together with the New Terminal One, these investments mark JFK’s most extensive transformation in decades, aiming to reposition the airport as a top global gateway while supporting thousands of jobs and expanding opportunities for local businesses.
New York’s Busiest International Hub
John F. Kennedy International Airport, opened in 1948 and renamed in 1963 to honor the late president, is New York City’s busiest gateway and a critical hub for global travel. Handling more than 60 million passengers in peak years, JFK serves as a primary entry point into the United States and supports over 300,000 jobs regionally through aviation and related industries. The airport spans more than 5,000 acres in southeast Queens and operates six passenger terminals alongside four runways, including one of the longest in North America. As international traffic rebounds, JFK is undergoing a $19 billion transformation aimed at modernizing its terminals, improving transit connections, and reinforcing its status among the world’s leading airports.
In 2024, JFK saw approximately 63.3 million passengers, a 2% increase over 2023, contributing to a record-total of 145.9 million travelers across all Port Authority airports in the region—JFK, LaGuardia, Newark, and Stewart. International traffic surged past pre-pandemic peaks, and domestic travel nearly matched its 2023 total. December alone set a new monthly record for the agency, with 12.5 million passengers, and the holiday period from December 21 to January 2 saw 5.5 million travelers—both beating previous records.
In Wisconsin, Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport (MKE) and Milwaukee County have broken ground on a $95.2 million redevelopment of Concourse E, while San Diego International Airport (SAN) has begun construction on next phase of the $3.4B New Terminal 1, part of a broader wave of airport improvement projects underway across the country.
New Terminal One Hires Ethos Farm— Project Factsheet
Status (as of Sept. 22, 2025)
The New Terminal One at JFK is under construction and moving toward a first-phase opening in 2026.
Purpose & scope
All-international, south-side terminal replacing/anchoring the sites of existing Terminals 1–3. Designed to be JFK’s largest international gateway.
Location and footprint
NTO is replacing Terminals 1, 2, and the former 3 footprint on JFK’s south side.
Design and architecture
The headhouse will feature soaring ceilings, natural light, and modern security/immigration facilities designed to speed processing.
Sustainability goals
Developers have pledged LEED-certified design, with energy-efficient systems and advanced waste management.
Project cost
Terminal-level budget: ~$9.5 billion. Part of the Port Authority’s broader $19 billion JFK transformation program.
Size & capacity
Approximately 2.4–2.6 million sq ft at full build-out. Planned 23 gates (first phase opens with a subset of gates, roughly 14 widebody-ready).
Timeline
First phase: 2026 (headhouse and initial gates).
Full completion: 2030.
Developer / lead consortium
Delivered by a consortium led by Ferrovial with partners including JLC Infrastructure, Ullico and Carlyle under a long-term concession/operating arrangement.
Financing
Consortium financing includes a mix of equity and debt instruments; uptake of project bonds and structured financings has been used to fund construction and delivery.
Anchor airlines (selected)
Roster of international carriers expected to operate from the terminal includes airlines such as Air France, KLM, Korean Air, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Air China, EVA Air, LOT, SAS, Neos and others as schedules shift.
Key commercial & retail partners
Retail and concessions programming is a major element of the build. The terminal will include large-format retail and dining areas, lounge partnerships and digitally enabled customer experiences.
Operations & guest experience
A dedicated guest-experience program is in place. Ethos Farm Americas was appointed to manage guest services and recruit/oversee frontline staff, building on its role designing the terminal’s training program.
Labor & inclusion commitments
Construction uses union labor. The program includes stated local inclusion and supplier participation targets for minority-, women- and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses.
Related JFK projects (context)
Terminal 8: commercial redevelopment launched (mid-2024), focused on expanded concessions and retail.
Terminal 5: ongoing refresh led by JetBlue, adding concessions and a flagship lounge; upgrades phased through 2025–2026.
All are part of the same $19 billion modernization.
Quick Fact
New Terminal One is the centerpiece of JFK’s south-side rebuild: a roughly $9.5 billion, 2.6 million-sq-ft international terminal due in phases from 2026 and complete by 2030, operated by a Ferrovial-led consortium and designed to consolidate major international carriers under a single, modern hub.
