Turkish Airlines to Open Lounge at New JFK Terminal One

Turkish Airlines (TK) will operate out of New York JFK’s brand-new Terminal One when the first phase opens in 2026, with premium passengers feted in a lavish new lounge.

The Turkish flag carrier currently uses JFK’s existing Terminal 1 as its main hub in the U.S. Its route between JFK and Istanbul (IST) is one of its busiest, flying 19 times a week.

Photo: © The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

With Terminal 1 scheduled for demolition and work already underway on its state-of-the-art replacement, Turkish Airlines is already packing for a move.

The New Terminal One project has now confirmed that TK will be one of the first carriers to move into the replacement Terminal One when it opens to the public in 2026.

Turkish Airlines will also move its lounge to the new terminal. It’s already claimed an 11,000-square-foot space that’s double the size of its current JFK lounge and will offer panoramic views of the airfield and direct boarding access to aircraft for its business-class passengers and Miles&Smiles elites. An opening date for the lounge hasn’t been revealed.

Photo: © The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

“We are excited to bring Turkish Airlines’ world-class service to the New Terminal One at JFK, further enhancing our passengers’ travel experience with a state-of-the-art-lounge,” Prof. Ahmet Bolat, Turkish Airlines’ chairman of the board and the executive committee, said.

“We are thrilled to welcome Turkish Airlines to the New Terminal One at JFK, where their commitment to world-class customer service aligns perfectly with our mission to provide an unparalleled customer experience,” Jennifer Aument, CEO of New Terminal One, said in a statement.

“We look forward to working closely with our colleagues at Turkish Airlines to elevate the travel experience for customers from 2026 and beyond.”

Photo: © The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

The New Terminal One is set to be the largest international terminal in the U.S. when it fully opens in 2030, with 23 international-only gates and new arrivals and departure halls located on the former sites of Terminals 1, 2, and 3.

At 2.6 million square feet, it will be JFK’s largest terminal and nearly the same size as nearby LaGuardia Airport’s (LGA) two terminals combined.

Alongside Turkish Airlines, the terminal will be a gateway for Air France, Air China, Air Serbia, Etihad, EVA Air, KLM, Korean Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Neos, Philippine Airlines, and SAS.

Photo: Turkish Airlines Business Class Lounge, Istanbul Airport. Courtesy of Turkish Airlines.

JFK promises the terminal will be “sustainably designed and future-focused,” with naturally-lit public spaces, advanced technology, and abundant amenities for travelers.

It’s aiming for Terminal One to be named in the top five best in the world by SkyTrax, an honor currently held by Newark’s Terminal A, Bangalore’s (BLR) Terminal 2, Abu Dhabi’s (AUH) Terminal A, Kanas City International Airport (MCI), and Chennai’s (MAA) Terminal 2.

The new terminal is the anchor of the $19 billion modernization of JFK. The redevelopment project also includes the construction of a brand new international Terminal 6, and big-budget expansions of Terminals 4 and 8.

Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines’s Bolat says the carrier’s move to the new terminal “underlines our commitment to continue our growth in the U.S market.”

Photo: Turkish Airlines, Airbus A350-900. Courtesy of TJ Bearfly.

Turkish Airlines has aggressively expanded its network in the U.S. beyond JFK in recent years, adding flights to many of the hubs of codeshare partner United, including Chicago (ORD), San Francisco (SFO), Newark (EWR), Houston (IAH), and Washington, D.C. (IAD), as well as to other major markets. As of December 2024, it operates more than 130 flights weekly to 13 U.S. destinations.

In addition to JFK, TK has lounges at Miami International Airport (MIA) and Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport.