Under an agreement approved by the Port Authority's Board of Commissioners, a partnership of MCR development and JetBlue will remake the TWA Flight Center, with MCR and JetBlue retaining 95 and 5 percent ownership of the facility respectively. The redevelopment project was first announced by Governor Cuomo in July and is expected to open in 2018.

Hotel guests and passengers from every terminal will be able to reach the TWA Hotel via the AirTrain as well as through the Saarinen passenger tubes that connect directly to Terminal 5.

The hotel will contain 40,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a 10,000-square-foot observation deck where guests can watch planes take off and land, and eight food and beverage outlets—including the revived Ambassador's Club, Lisbon Lounge and Paris Cafe.

The restoration plans include reviving and rehabilitating the Terminal's iconic interiors and creating a museum showcasing New York as the birthplace of the Jet Age, the history of Trans World Airlines and the Midcentury Modern design movement.

Says Richard T. Anderson, president,New York Building Congress, “The redevelopment of that space into an on-airport hotel will rectify a major deficiency at JFK, create thousands of jobs, and re-introduce one of the world's most iconic structures to a new generation of New Yorkers and visitors from around the globe.

Adds John Banks, president, Real Estate Board of New York, “Projects like the new TWA Hotel ensure that New York City continues to grow and thrive. This state-of-the-art hotel will maintain an architectural gem, honor our aviation history and keep New York on the cutting edge of preservation-sensitive development necessary for growth and economic success.

Real estate developer Joe Sitt, chairman and founder of the Global Gateway Alliance, notes, “First-class hotels are a hallmark of a 21st-century airport, and for too long JFK has been among the very few major airports in the country without this amenity.”

He continues, “The new hotel at the former TWA Flight Center will not only fix this problem and bring JFK on par with our competitors; it will also reopen the iconic structure to both New Yorkers and the millions of passengers who pass through the airport every year.

Asserts Bill Rudin, chair of the Association for a Better New York, “The revitalization of the TWA Flight Center shows that New York can at once pay homage to its history and lead the world in first-class development. This redevelopment is also an important step in ensuring that our transportation hubs are equipped for the 21st century traveler's needs.”

He elaborates, “JFK airport workers, New York City residents and the millions of tourists passing through the transit hub every year will be able to benefit from this innovative hotel and event space that will help contribute to a better New York for years to come.”

NEW YORK CITY—Inching part of our city's infrastructure forward, ground was broken late last week at the legendary TWA Flight Center at JFK International Airport.

With Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and New York-based hotel investment firm MCR present at the ceremony, the storied Saarinen terminal is set to become the centerpiece of a 505-room hotel.
“JFK Airport is one of the largest international transit hubs in the world and a key driver of New York's economy,” says Governor Cuomo. “The conversion of the TWA Flight Center into a new state-of-the-art hotel will preserve this iconic landmark while cementing JFK's status as a crown jewel of aviation.”

He continues, “This groundbreaking builds on our efforts to modernize gateways across the state and we will continue working to drive growth, support thriving regional economies and build 21^st century infrastructure of the caliber that New York deserves.”

With over 56 million passengers each year, JFK is the nation's largest international airport yet it is one of the country's few terminals without an on-site hotel. The $265 million construction project is entirely funded by the private sector.

Under an agreement approved by the Port Authority's Board of Commissioners, a partnership of MCR development and JetBlue will remake the TWA Flight Center, with MCR and JetBlue retaining 95 and 5 percent ownership of the facility respectively. The redevelopment project was first announced by Governor Cuomo in July and is expected to open in 2018.

Hotel guests and passengers from every terminal will be able to reach the TWA Hotel via the AirTrain as well as through the Saarinen passenger tubes that connect directly to Terminal 5.

The hotel will contain 40,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a 10,000-square-foot observation deck where guests can watch planes take off and land, and eight food and beverage outlets—including the revived Ambassador's Club, Lisbon Lounge and Paris Cafe.

The restoration plans include reviving and rehabilitating the Terminal's iconic interiors and creating a museum showcasing New York as the birthplace of the Jet Age, the history of Trans World Airlines and the Midcentury Modern design movement.

Says Richard T. Anderson, president,New York Building Congress, “The redevelopment of that space into an on-airport hotel will rectify a major deficiency at JFK, create thousands of jobs, and re-introduce one of the world's most iconic structures to a new generation of New Yorkers and visitors from around the globe.

Adds John Banks, president, Real Estate Board of New York, “Projects like the new TWA Hotel ensure that New York City continues to grow and thrive. This state-of-the-art hotel will maintain an architectural gem, honor our aviation history and keep New York on the cutting edge of preservation-sensitive development necessary for growth and economic success.

Real estate developer Joe Sitt, chairman and founder of the Global Gateway Alliance, notes, “First-class hotels are a hallmark of a 21st-century airport, and for too long JFK has been among the very few major airports in the country without this amenity.”

He continues, “The new hotel at the former TWA Flight Center will not only fix this problem and bring JFK on par with our competitors; it will also reopen the iconic structure to both New Yorkers and the millions of passengers who pass through the airport every year.

Asserts Bill Rudin, chair of the Association for a Better New York, “The revitalization of the TWA Flight Center shows that New York can at once pay homage to its history and lead the world in first-class development. This redevelopment is also an important step in ensuring that our transportation hubs are equipped for the 21st century traveler's needs.”

He elaborates, “JFK airport workers, New York City residents and the millions of tourists passing through the transit hub every year will be able to benefit from this innovative hotel and event space that will help contribute to a better New York for years to come.”