Delta Air to Add 11 Gates at JFK, to Contribute Added $5M for Investment

Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL), the PortAuthority of New York and New Jersey and JFK International Air Terminal LLC(JFKIAT) will continue expansion at John F. Kennedy International Airport witha $175 million project that will add 11 gates and 75,000 square feet toTerminal 4's Concourse B. Delta has committed an additional $5 million forinformation technology enhancements. The new project is in addition to thepreviously announced $1.2 billion redevelopment at Terminal 4 set to open inMay."This additional expansion project at Terminal 4 is another in a long line ofsubstantial investments we are making in New York," said Richard Anderson,Delta's chief executive officer. "As we continue to bring benefits to Deltapeople, Delta customers and the citizens of New York with significantenhancements to our JFK hub, we are thankful to have great entities to partnerwith including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, JFKIAT andSchiphol Group.""This continued expansion project will improve New York's infrastructure andmake JFK Terminal 4 a world class facility to serve New Yorkers and visitors,"Governor Cuomo said. "This investment by Delta, the Port Authority of New Yorkand New Jersey, JFKIAT and Schiphol Group will provide a boost for the localeconomy and create jobs for the community. As a major gateway to New York, JFKTerminal 4 will be a major asset in the State's efforts to increase tourism inthe Empire State.""Delta's numerous investments in New York, including the expansion of Terminal4, are key to strengthening our economy and maintaining New York City'sposition as a top tourist destination," said New York City Mayor MichaelBloomberg. "The jobs that result from this continued expansion are importantto our city and its economy.""Schiphol Group is proud to play an important role in supporting our partnerDelta through this exciting expansion project at JFK," said Jos Nijhuis, CEOSchiphol Group "And we are encouraged that the relationship continues togrow."With the new expansion, Terminal 4's Concourse B will house 27 Delta gates andcompletely replace Delta's current Terminal 2 regional jet operation. Each ofthe new gates will feature a dedicated boarding counter, seating area and jetbridge, eliminating the need for ramp level boarding, which currently existsat Terminal 2. All gates will be designed to accommodate two-class regionaljets as well as provide flexibility for gating additional mainline aircraft.The new expansion builds on Delta's previously announced $1.2 billion Terminal4 redevelopment opening in May. That expansion, which is 90 percent complete,features nine new and seven renovated international gates; improved andrenovated check-in areas, including a dedicated Sky Priority check-in area; acentralized security checkpoint; new dining and retail offerings; a new 24,000square-foot flagship Delta Sky Club with the first ever Sky Deck outdoorterrace; dual taxiways for less congestion and shorter taxi times; andimproved Customs and Border Protection and baggage claim facilities.The expanded Terminal 4 – which has been successfully managed by JFKIAT formore than a decade – will replace the outdated Terminal 3 facilities,improving the customer experience for the 11 million passengers Delta servesat JFK annually. Demolition of Terminal 3 is expected to be completed bysummer 2015. The Terminal 3 site will then be used for aircraft parking.  "The approval of the second phase of the expansion project is a boon toTerminal 4 and its partnership with Delta," according to Alain Maca, presidentof JFKIAT. "This will enable the continuity of this significant project as wecontinue to build for a better and bigger tomorrow."Once the new Terminal 4 opens in May, Delta will more than double the currentshuttle bus operation for passengers connecting between Terminals 2 and 4. Tenbuses will carry connecting passengers between the existing bus holdrooms inTerminals 2 and 4. By September 2013, Delta will open a new 8,000 square-footbus holdroom facility adjacent to gate B20.