The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced a 50% fare reduction for AirTrain JFK from 30 June through Labor Day. This initiative aims to ease traffic congestion and promote public transit during what is expected to be the busiest summer ever at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The reduced fare is now 4.25 USD, down from 8.50 USD. It applies to AirTrain JFK riders at Jamaica and Howard Beach stations, where passengers typically pay using OMNY or MetroCard.
The initiative is part of a broader campaign to manage the challenges of record-high passenger volumes and peak construction activity under JFK’s ongoing 19 billion USD redevelopment.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said:As we head into a busy summer construction period in our $19 billion effort to build a new JFK International with record traveler volumes, we are once again asking travelers to leave their cars at home and take public transit to the airport. The discounted AirTrain fare is one of a multitude of steps we’re taking to move passengers to and from JFK as quickly and reliably as possible. Yes, there will be some temporary inconvenience. But it’s all part of building an airport our region can be proud of — for decades to come.
The summer surge in travel, expected to reach 18.3 million passengers (up 1 million over the last two years), coincides with major construction on JFK’s terminals and roadways.
Travellers are being recommended to use public transit wherever possible, especially AirTrain JFK via Jamaica or Howard Beach. Alternatively, parking should be pre-booked online at JFKAirport.com to guarantee a spot. PANYNJ recommends arriving at least 3 hours early if driving to the airport.
To support smoother operations, the Port Authority is also increasing front-line staffing, deploying tow trucks and traffic managers, and ramping up public awareness campaigns across media platforms.
Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said:Once again, we are encouraging travelers to use public transit to reach JFK International this summer when we expect a record number of passengers to use the airport while we are also at the peak of construction, including extensive work on the roadways as we build a whole new world-class JFK.
Beginning June 30 through Labor Day, AirTrain JFK fares will be reduced by half as an incentive to use public transit for reliable airport access and to reduce traffic at the terminal frontages. We apologize for any inconvenience, but we promise that a new JFK is just around the corner, with the first new gates opening next year.
