Delta upgrades regional flight connections at New York JFK hub

US airline — and Virgin Australia partner — Delta Air Lines is driving ahead with the much-needed expansion of its JFK Airport Terminal 4 home, focussing on passengers connecting via New York to regional economic hubs.

Eleven new gates with jetway airbridges and an extra 75,000 square feet (nearly 7000 square metres) of terminal space will add extra capacity for connections from T4's Concourse B.

That will mean no more cross-terminal trek to Delta's regional jet connections at Terminal 2, and a welcome end to the open air hikes to the plane across the T2 tarmac in New York's boiling-hot, thunderstorm-prone summers and sub-zero snowy, icy winters.

Read more: our business traveller's airport guide to New York JFK

The rest of Delta's massive JFK Terminal 4 redevelopment is on track to open in May, with fast-track check in zones, more efficient security, a 24,000 square foot Sky Club lounge (flash your Velocity Gold/Platinum card to get in) — plus a snazzy outdoor roof terrace — and a total of sixteen new or renovated international gates.

Once the revamped T4 is opened in May, Terminal 3 (formerly the Pan Am Worldport) will be knocked down, putting an end to Delta's three-terminal spread.

A new set of shuttle buses will carry transferring passengers between T4 and Terminal 2, which will be home to a minority of Delta's flights.

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John Walton

Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.