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CONCESSIONS  
September 2026      AirportImprovement.com
JFK
Compressed Schedule 
Originally planned as a four-phase project, construction for the 
concessions redevelopment was compressed into two overlapping 
phases to meet accelerated timelines. The new timeline required 
agility and bold decision making to minimize disruption and maintain 
a minimum of essential passenger amenities to meet the delivery 
date, Mandel recalls.
“We had vastly more barricades up at the same time than 
we had initially imagined, but, as a group, we understood the 
necessity and were agile enough to pivot and make that happen,” 
he relates. 
Throughout the project, efforts were made to minimize the 
impact on passengers, says Alan Bates, project director for 
Holt Construction. Contractors used branded barricades to 
communicate ongoing improvements and performed much of the 
necessary demolition and heavy construction overnight.  
While renovating the existing terminal, crews uncovered unforeseen 
field conditions and deficiencies in the legacy building. Bates notes that 
close coordination with airport operations was crucial to ensure safety 
and compliance—particularly regarding fire life safety systems and 
emergency telephony. He also points to innovative tactical strategies, 
such as removing sections of the curtain wall to allow concrete to be 
delivered into the building. 
Mandel says the project highlights the value of clear and 
consistent communication, transparency, partnership, bold but 
kind leadership, and the ability to adapt plans quickly in response 
to changing circumstances. He specifically highlights the team’s 
ability to deliver the project with minimal operational impact. Only 
one flight was delayed, and only by 11 minutes, during the entire 
project, he reports. 
Looking Ahead
Carter says the Terminal 8 concessions project demonstrates how 
legacy terminals can be transformed to meet modern expectations. 
It aligns with the Port Authority’s vision for a best-in-class JFK 
experience and sets a benchmark for future terminal upgrades that 
are locally inspired and economically and culturally enriching, he adds.
He cites stakeholder collaboration for creating an environment 
of responsiveness, flexibility and continued innovation during the 
large-scale leasing effort. Operators are “hungry to find success 
and really hit the mark” in offering passengers what they want, 
Carter says. “It takes true partnership, and we feel confident that 
we’ve established incredible relationships with talented operators.” 
With future flexibility in mind, the food hall was designed with the 
base infrastructure to support changing trends. “There’s always 
opportunities to rethink, reinvigorate and reimagine the spaces in 
which we serve,” Carter reflects. “As the aviation industry continues 
to evolve, we built a strong foundation that we are incredibly 
excited to continue to build upon and raise the bar for what the 
passenger experience looks like.” 
Since the grand opening in April, he notes ASUR has already 
seen a “material impact” to its passenger satisfaction scores. 
“We’re very bullish that this is going to translate into very strong 
financial success, not only for us, but also our incredible brand 
and local operator partners that have worked with us to deliver 
this incredible product.”  
Amanda Zhang, vice president of corporate real estate 
at American Airlines is similarly bullish. “From the beginning, 
the transformation of Terminal 8 was driven by a vision to 
modernize our international gateway at JFK and create a more 
seamless, welcoming journey for our customers and those of our 
partners,” Zhang recounts. “Together, we’ve delivered a best-
in-class experience—from check-in to lounges to more than 
60 new dining and retail concepts that bring an authentic New 
York sense of place to life. The result is a more comfortable and 
connected end-to-end journey.”
The overall expansion and modernization of Terminal 8 is one 
of five main components of the Port Authority’s $19 billion JFK 
Vision Plan.
“Nearly a decade ago, the Port Authority unveiled its Vision plan 
for the transformation of JFK International Airport into a world-
class global gateway that would once again be worthy of the city it 
calls home,” says Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia. 
“With the completion of Terminal 8’s modernization and expansion, 
including its diverse, locally inspired commercial program, we 
are giving passengers their first glimpse into what a new JFK will 
represent with a best-in-class experience from curb to gate.” 
Sarasota Bradenton International Airport 
Terminal Expansion

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