John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) is New York’s largest airport and the primary gateway for international flights into the city, sitting in Queens about 15 miles from Manhattan.
Five Terminals, Two More on the Way
JFK currently operates Terminals 1, 4, 5, 7, and 8, all linked by the free AirTrain JFK. Terminal 6 and the new Terminal One are both under construction and opening in phases through 2026, so expect ongoing changes to which airlines use which terminal.
Getting Into Manhattan
The AirTrain connects every terminal to the Long Island Rail Road and New York City Subway at Jamaica Station, where the LIRR reaches Penn Station in as little as 20 to 30 minutes. Subway service takes closer to an hour but costs far less than a taxi or rideshare, which typically run 40 to 55 minutes depending on traffic and bridge or tunnel tolls.
JFK vs. LaGuardia and Newark
New York has three major airports. JFK handles the bulk of long-haul international flights, LaGuardia (LGA) is closest to Manhattan and mostly domestic, and Newark (EWR) in New Jersey is United’s hub with strong international routes of its own.
Search live fares into JFK above.