Anyone who’s been to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK Airport) recently can attest to how much of a mess it is to get to and from there with the ongoing construction. Now it’s going to get a whole lot more complicated for travelers.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced this week that travelers arriving at JFK Airport’s Terminal 5 or Terminal 7 will face a major change in how they catch their Uber, Lyft, Revel, or car service ride home.
To prevent gridlock on terminal roadways during the busy summer travel season, the Port Authority announced that all ride app and car service pickups for Terminals 5 and 7 will now happen at a designated pickup lot at the Howard Beach AirTrain station — not directly outside the terminals.
Here’s What Travelers Need to Do
Passengers landing at Terminals 5 or 7 who want to leave using a for-hire car service will have to take an AirTrain to the Howard Beach station to meet their Uber or Lyft ride at a designated, numbered space.
The trip, on the AirTrain’s Green Line, is free. There will be free wi-fi at the Howard Beach station — as long as it works.
Why the Change?
This shift comes as JFK undergoes a $19 billion transformation, the largest construction program ever at a Port Authority airport. Major projects — including the new Terminal One, Terminal 6, a ground transportation center, and a completely rebuilt airport roadway network — are all in peak construction this summer.
Terminal 6 will reopen in 2026 — but the broader construction project won’t end until 2030.
The Port Authority is aiming to avoid the kind of passenger frustration seen during LaGuardia Airport’s massive 2016–2022 rebuild, when on-site traffic snarls became infamous.
By moving ride app pickups to Howard Beach, the Port Authority hopes to reduce traffic congestion in front of the terminals, making the experience smoother for travelers and construction crews alike.
Plan Ahead
Travelers are encouraged to use AirTrain JFK to move between terminals and the pickup lot and to check Construction.JFKAirport.com for the latest updates before heading to the airport.
These changes apply only to pickups at Terminals 5 and 7 — so passengers departing from or arriving at other terminals should check ahead for their specific pickup procedures.