JFKIAT – the operator of Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport – has announced that Copa Airlines has extended its agreement through the next decade, building opportunity and momentum well into the next decade, as the transformation of JFK T4 continues and ushers in new enhancements to T4’s best-in-class customer experience.
As the stewards of JFK T4, JFKIAT has a legacy of fostering a collaborative culture and open communication with its airline partners. The company’s strategic focus and entrepreneurial culture have resulted in an effective ecosystem focused on innovation, a customer-centric approach to delivering incredible journeys for passengers, and thriving, long-term partnerships with its airlines, including Copa Airlines.
The extension of this partnership comes at a pivotal time for T4. The $1.5B transformation of T4 broke ground in 2021, ushering in impactful investments in both the physical and digital aspects of the terminal. As part of this redevelopment, JFKIAT expanded the terminal capacity and initiated significant upgrades to support continuous growth in T4’s passenger traffic, seamless operations, advanced sustainability initiatives, and cutting-edge technologies to innovate the terminal’s systems for the future.
The physical expansion of T4 has increased the terminal’s capacity by 25 percent, resulting in more than 27.7M passengers in 2024 alone. As JFKIAT has continued to transform the physical infrastructure of T4, the company recognized the need for a North Star to bring the transformation to life. JFKIAT worked closely with its business partners to define a shared vision that will impact every aspect of the T4 experience, enhancing and aligning the customer service culture across the entire terminal, investing in digital solutions to enable easier navigation and passenger flow, reimagining T4’s entire commercial program, and elevating the terminal’s ambiance with elements of design.
“We are proud to have the continued trust of our valued airline partners at Copa Airlines as we move into the next phase of T4’s transformation,” said Roel Huinink, Chief Executive Officer of JFKIAT. “Our shared commitment to driving a best-in-class experience has been key to defining our vision for T4’s future. We look forward to our continued work with our partners at Copa Airlines to invest in our community, support our employees, and elevate our passengers’ journeys as we bring this transformation to life through the power of the T4 community.”
“Copa Airlines is proud to celebrate over 20 years of partnership with JFKIAT at Terminal 4, a hub that continues to set the standard for innovation, sustainability, and passenger experience,” said Ricardo Sotelo, VP of Airport Operations at Copa Airlines. “As we extend our collaboration beyond 2030, we remain committed to providing exceptional service to our customers and contributing to the seamless and world-class travel experience that T4 is known for. We look forward to continuing this journey with JFKIAT as the terminal evolves to meet the needs of passengers.”
More than 20 years ago, Copa Airlines launched its first flights connecting New York City to Panama. Today, with daily service from T4 to more than 85 destinations across Latin America and the Caribbean, Copa continues to bridge cultures and create connections. Together, JFKIAT and Copa Airlines share a commitment to operational excellence and delivering incredible journeys for passengers, aligning with the T4 North Star to provide a world-class experience for all passengers through an exceptional customer service culture.
