The decision aligns Air India with fellow Star Alliance members, enabling customers through codeshare and interline partnerships to enjoy seamless, same‑terminal connections across the Americas.
JFK Millennium Partners (JMP), selected by the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to build and operate John F Kennedy International Airport’s new Terminal 6 (T6), announced that Air India will relocate its operations to the facility in 2028.
The decision aligns Air India with fellow Star Alliance members at T6, including Air Canada, ANA, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Brussels Airlines, Lufthansa, SWISS, and TAP Air Portugal, alongside Aer Lingus, Cathay Pacific, JetBlue, Kuwait Airways, Icelandair, and Norse Atlantic. Air India’s codeshare and interline partnerships with many of these carriers will enable customers to enjoy seamless, same‑terminal connections across the Americas.
Building on the recent opening of its signature Maharaja Lounge at San Francisco International Airport, Air India will launch its first flagship Maharaja Lounge at JFK T6, spanning 9,100 sq. ft in a prime post‑security location overlooking the terminal’s commercial concourse.
T6 will open in phases, with the first gates operational in 2026 and full completion expected by 2028. It is a cornerstone of the Port Authority’s $19 billion transformation of JFK International Airport, the sixth‑busiest airport in the US, aimed at creating a cohesive, modern gateway with new and expanded terminals, a ground transportation centre, and a simplified roadway network.
Air India currently operates daily nonstop services from JFK Terminal 4 to Delhi and Mumbai using Airbus A350 and Boeing 777 aircraft. These operations will continue until the move to T6.
George Casey, Chair of JMP and CEO of Vantage Group, said, “Air India’s decision to join Terminal 6 validates the innovative approach we have taken to create and manage a new world‑class international terminal at JFK, in partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Air India will be an important partner in helping Terminal 6 deliver an exceptional experience while strengthening JFK’s role as a premier international gateway.”
Guest‑Centric Terminal Design
Developed by JFK Millennium Partners, led by Vantage Group, T6 is designed to deliver a boutique, guest‑focused travel experience, featuring short walking distances from the security checkpoint to all gates, modern amenities, intuitive wayfinding, and a curated shopping and dining programme that reflects New York’s global character.
Steve Thody, CEO of JMP, said, “Welcoming Air India to the new Terminal 6 is an exciting milestone for both T6 and JFK Airport. Air India is a globally recognised carrier undergoing a bold transformation, and T6 is built to support that vision.”
Campbell Wilson, CEO & Managing Director of Air India, added, “New York has long been one of India’s most important global gateways; it’s a relationship that spans more than six decades. Our move to Terminal 6 will complement the deployment of our flagship aircraft, offering the ‘new Air India experience’ to our customers. T6’s guest‑centric design, operational efficiency, and proximity to fellow Star Alliance members will further elevate our customers’ experience and enable smoother, seamlessly connected journeys through JFK starting in 2028.”
Once complete, T6 will feature ten gates (nine widebody‑capable), expansive lounges, curated New York‑inspired shopping and dining, sustainability‑driven design, and state‑of‑the‑art technologies.