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The Sundrome, later TWA Domestic Terminal and Terminal 6, was one of several terminals at John F. Kennedy International Airport. It was designed by I. M. Pei & Partners (now Pei Cobb Freed & Partners). Opened in 1969, it was initially used by National Airlines. It had been occupied at various times by Trans World Airlines (domestic flights), Pan Am, United Airlines (SFO and LAX transcontinental flights), ATA Airlines, Pan American Airways (1996–1998), Carnival Airlines, Vanguard Airlines, and America West Airlines. Most recently, from 1998 to 2008, Terminal 6 was the home of JetBlue. It became vacant on October 22, 2008, when JetBlue moved to Terminal 5, and finally demolished in 2011.

Design

I.M. Pei, in his design of the Sundrome, used all-glass mullions, unprecedented at the time.

History

Prior to the construction of the Sundrome, National Airlines used a corrugated metal quonset hut as a terminal located between the eventual location of the Sundrome and Terminal 7 from 1948, when the airline first provided air service from Idlewild Airport, as it was then known. National Airlines commissioned the construction of the Sundrome, which opened on November 30, 1969. National Airlines used the Sundrome until its acquisition by Pan American World Airways in 1980.

Trans World Airlines then expanded into the terminal, referring to it as the TWA Terminal Annex, later called TWA Domestic Terminal, then Terminal 6. It was eventually connected to the TWA Flight Center (later called TWA International Terminal and subsequently called Terminal 5; now partially preserved as the TWA Hotel). The connection was by a landside plywood walkway that was interrupted by a terminal driveway. Later, after TWA reduced flights at the airport, the terminal was used by United Airlines, ATA Airlines, a reincarnated Pan American Airways (1996-1998), Carnival Air Lines, Vanguard Airlines, and America West Airlines. On October 30, 2000, United Airlines and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced plans to redevelop this terminal and the TWA Flight Center as a new United terminal.

On April 29, 2010, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that Terminal 6 would be demolished to allow JetBlue to consolidate its operations at an expanded Terminal 5. Despite an effort by preservationists to protect the building, demolition of the entire terminal was completed as planned in October 2011. The former Terminal 6 site was then used to expand the current Terminal 5 to include international facilities.

References

1. Galef, Julia (June 16, 2010). "I.M. Pei's JFK in Terminal Trouble". The Architect's Newspaper. Archived from the original on June 19, 2010. Retrieved 2010-06-16.
2. Fowle, Farnsworth (1969-11-29). "Superjet Terminal Will Open". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
3. "T.W.A. Leases Terminal". The New York Times. 1980-12-05. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-02.
4. Matthews, Karen (October 12, 2017). "Hotel at iconic TWA terminal will evoke glamour of jet age". USA Today. Associated Press. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
5. "Landmarks: TWA Terminal" (PDF). Progressive Architecture: 96. May 1992.
6. "Port Authority, United Airlines Launch Major Redevelopment of Terminals 5 and 6 at JFK – Project Pushes Total Cost of Kennedy Airport's Record Redevelopment to $10 Billion Mark" (Press release). Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. October 30, 2000. Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved May 1, 2009.
7. "Port Authority Prepares for Future Aviation Growth by Creating New Development Sites at JFK Airport" (Press release). Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. April 29, 2010. Retrieved 2011-07-20.
8. Hirshon, Nicholas (September 21, 2011). "I.M. Pei-designed terminal at JFK Airport inspires preservation push". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011. Retrieved 2011-09-21.
9. "Youtube:Demolition of Terminal 6 JFK (TWA & JetBlue's old home) (Video 12)". Archived from the original on 2020-06-08. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
10. "The Demolition of Terminal 6 at JFK is Happening NOW". Jaunted. October 18, 2011. Retrieved June 13, 2015.
11. "JetBlue Gets Green Light to Build New International Arrivals Extension to its Home at JFK's Terminal 5" (Press release). JetBlue Airways. May 31, 2012. Archived from the original on July 9, 2012. Retrieved June 13, 2012.

External links

• New York Architectural Advocacy Group DoCoMoMo's History of Sundrome, Summer, 2003
• Pei Cobb Freed photos of early terminal
• National Airlines Timeline
• National Airlines Sundowner former flight attendant website, with zippy "Watch us Shine" ad jingle

40°38′53″N 73°46′46″W / 40.647951°N 73.7794°W / 40.647951; -73.7794

• Transport infrastructure completed in 1970
• Aviation in New York City
• John F. Kennedy International Airport
• Transportation buildings and structures in Queens, New York
• National Airlines (1934–1980)
• Airport terminals
• Demolished buildings and structures in Queens, New York
• 1970 establishments in New York (state)