Summary
- Aer Lingus will move operations to JFK Terminal 6 in early 2026, offering a new signature lounge.
- The move will allow seamless connectivity to JetBlue flights.
- Terminal 6 will be a state-of-the-art space with curated artwork, dining/shopping options, and close gates.
Aer Lingus has announced that it will begin operations at Terminal 6 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in early 2026. Additionally, the airline will open a new signature lounge in the new terminal.
Out with the old, in with the new (soon)
John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) serves New York City and is one of the busiest airports in the world. Last year, the airport welcomed over 62 million passengers. Significant investments are being made at the airport to improve and expand, like adding new terminals to maintain a high level of operations at JFK.
Photo: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Earlier today, Aer Lingus, the Irish flag carrier, announced that it will move its operations at JFK once the new Terminal 6 opens. In addition to operating at the new terminal, the airline will build a new signature lounge. The airline will begin its operations at Terminal 6 on the first day of opening, which will be in early 2026. Currently, the airline operates in Terminal 7.
”We are looking forward to our move to JFK Terminal 6 when construction is completed. The new terminal promises Aer Lingus customers a modern, light filled, tech enabled space, which will allow us to go above and beyond for our customers. The addition of a brand-new dedicated Aer Lingus lounge will further enhance our loyal customer’s experience providing them with a modern state of the art lounge.” – Susanne Carberry, Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus highlighted that moving its operations to Terminal 6 will provide seamless connectivity to JetBlue flights since the American carrier will also operate from that terminal.
United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) Pre Clearance in Shannon and Dublin makes connecting in the US even more accessible, as passengers clear US immigration before boarding the flight in Ireland. Upon arrival in the US, Aer Lingus passengers can head straight to baggage claim or to the gate for their connecting flight.
Rendering: JFK Airport
JFK is run by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, and JFK Millenium Partners was selected to develop Terminal 6. The project is worth $4.2 billion and includes a boutique, state-of-the-art design, curated artwork, and 100,000 square feet of dining and shopping.
The new terminal will only feature ten gates, but nine will be able to accommodate widebodies. One of the most important selling points of the new terminal is that none of the gates will be more than five minutes walking distance from the security checkpoint.
Aer Lingus operations at JFK
According to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, Aer Lingus has 248 flights scheduled to and from JFK this month. Most flights are operated by the airline’s older Airbus A330s, both the A330-200 and A330-300, but one daily flight from Shannon is on the Airbus A321neo.
Between all of the flights, the busiest route is from Dublin to JFK, with two daily flights. More than 38,000 seats are available on the city pair.
Aer Lingus has the largest market share between Dublin and JFK but faces some competition from two American carriers. Delta Air Lines and JetBlue have flights to Ireland, with Delta flying to Shannon and Dublin and JetBlue flying to Dublin once daily.
