Terminal Turns
JFK's T5 set to process unprecedented passenger numbers
JetBlue Airways' Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport is set to process an unprecedented 770,000 passengers per gate per annum. "We're looking at a terminal in number of passengers per gate and number of passengers per square meter that is at the top end of what is being achieved anywhere," said Andrew McAlpine of Arup, T5's planner and design management firm. "There is no other terminal building I know of operates at that level for sustained periods."
McAlpine said the terminal is designed for this level of traffic and will handle the volume in stride. "We have worked on larger terminals, but this one will operate at the highest level of efficiency."
Arup and terminal architect Gensler have worked with their airline client to fine-tune what was initially a generic master plan from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. While JetBlue's narrow fleet of A320 and Embraer aircraft allows for a high degree of efficiency on the airside in terms of layout, specific site constraints created issues in terms of obtaining good aircraft flows on the airside with minimal potential for delay.
Despite being a green field effort, the Terminal 5 site neighbors the swooping, hawk-like form of the Eero Saarinen TWA Terminal. In addition to line of sight issues and the desire to optimize aircraft stands, the historical constraints of the existing terminal presented challenges.
"Here is this icon of 20th century architecture sitting in our front yard and the clear intent by JetBlue and the PANYNJ was to connect Saarinen's Terminal to the JetBlue terminal, which in turn dictated exactly the height and where our terminal could fit," said Gensler Designer Bill Hooper.
To suit the low-cost carrier's high-capacity needs, a densely-packed, double-loaded concourse oriented East-West with 26 gates on the North and South sides of a relatively long spine has been designed to accommodate 250 JetBlue flights a day.
One of the biggest objectives in the T5 design was airside efficiency in relationship to the taxiway system.
"We are looking to do 10 turns per gate a day," said JetBlue Vice President of Redevelopment Richard Smyth. "We designed the terminal around dual taxiways to allow for much more efficient aircraft maneuvering in and around the site. Our schedule is spread out throughout the day, and we are expecting it to be a very efficient aeronautical terminal."
Inside the 635,000-square-foot building, Smyth said same thing applies from a customer standpoint.
"Post-9/11, most of our concessions and amenities are post-security because that is where our customers spend the most time," Smyth said. "We have also invested in a lot of automated, self-service, efficient customer service. "We have planned a very large security area with 20 check-in positions and less emphasis on conventional ticket counters. I think that will work out very well for us."
A direct and simple passenger flow experience from the curb to the gate was arrived at by marrying a long single pier with a couple of flanking piers to optimize the balance between airside and terminal layout and groundside.
"Our planning effort has evolved, but once we put pencil to paper, we haven't made any major changes," Smyth said.
Upon completion in 2009, the infrastructure investment undertaken by JetBlue will more than double the airline's JFK capacity.
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