An airline from north of the border will soon operate from JFK Airport’s Terminal 6 (T6). Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline, will operate from JFK T6 when it opens to passengers in 2026.
Air Canada will operate alongside Star Alliance partners Lufthansa, SWISS, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and ANA.
JFK Millenium Partners (JMP), the design and development company overseeing the construction of T6, announced the news on Monday, January 6.
Air Canada Express-Jazz currently operates out of JFK Terminal 7, providing two daily flights from Toronto and one daily flight from Montreal in its Embraer E175 aircraft.
The JFK service has been in operation since March 2023. It joins Air Canada’s existing service at LaGuardia and Newark Airport, offering passengers a combined total of 36 daily flights between the New York market and Canada.
Air Canada and Lufthansa are founding members of Star Alliance, which is ranked as the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network. It is also North America’s only international network carrier to receive a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax.
Air Canada passengers will be able to utilize T6’s boutique amenities. T6 boasts a less than 5-minute walk from the TSA security checkpoint to all gates and 100,000 square feet of New York City-inspired shopping, dining, lounges, and amenities. Additionally, T6 has curated public art created by NYC-based artists to be displayed when the terminal opens.
JFK T6 is a key part of the Port Authority’s $19 billion transformation of JFK International Airport which includes two new terminals, two expanded and modernized terminals, a new ground transportation center, and an entirely new, simplified roadway network.
Steve Thody, CEO of JMP, said he is thrilled that Air Canada has selected T6 as its future home. “This decision is also a testament to the close partnership we’ve built with Air Canada at T7, and we can’t wait to strengthen that partnership even further as we welcome Air Canada passengers to our new, state-of-the-art T6 facility,” Thody said in a statement.
Executive Vice President of Revenue and Network Planning at Air Canada, Mark Galardo, added that moving operations to T6 will improve customers’ airport experiences. He said that New York is an important hub for Canadians traveling for business, leisure, and family.
“Through our connections at our Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver hubs, travelers from New York can easily reach anywhere in Canada or onward on our international network,” said Galardo.
Terminal is a two-phased project currently under construction at JFK airport. The first six gates will open in 2026, and full construction completion is expected by 2028. It features 10 gates, nine of which can accommodate widebody aircraft, a state-of-the-art automated baggage system, and one of the longest departure curbs at JFK with airline-branded passenger drop-off zones.
Additional features include multiple airline lounges, a new ground transportation center, and sustainably sourced building materials, including rooftop solar power and LEED sustainability certifications.
