American Airlines

AMERICAN Airlines has officially begun to conduct all of its operations out of newly opened Terminal 8 at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.

The 1.58-million square foot facility includes a new US Customs and Immigration facility that can handle 1,600 travellers per hour, security checkpoints capable of handling 1,800 passengers per hour, expanded ticketing positions and self-serve check-in machines, as well as a state-of-the-art, in-line security baggage system to expedite processing time. All told, the terminal can handle 12.8 million passengers per year.

By 2016, the port authority's airport system is expected to handle more than 127 million passengers a year. Through long-term strategic planning and public-private alliances, the port authority and its airline partners are leading the way to ensure the region's airports are prepared for this growth. To further these efforts, the port authority's own 10-year plan earmarks nearly US$4 billion for airport improvements and technological enhancement.