A former airport terminal at New York's JFK International Airport, left abandoned for 18 years, has been transformed into a stunning £200 million luxury hotel. The TWA Hotel, which opened in 2019, boasts a rooftop infinity pool with views over an active runway and has been recognized as one of the world's best airport hotels.
From Abandoned Terminal to Luxury Destination
The hotel occupies the iconic TWA Flight Center, originally designed by architect Eero Saarinen. The terminal closed in 2001 and sat disused until a $265 million (£200 million) restoration revived it. The project aimed to recreate the building's original 1962 appearance, which the Landmarks Preservation Commission called 'one of the great masterpieces of expressionistic modern design'.
The hotel spans two buildings at each end of the former terminal, offering 512 rooms. The original terminal now serves as the four-star hotel's lobby, featuring a 10,000-square-foot gym—claimed to be the world's largest hotel gym—alongside several restaurants.
Unique Aviation-Themed Amenities
One of the hotel's most striking features is a 1958 Lockheed Constellation aircraft converted into a cocktail lounge. An aviation history museum is also housed within the hotel. Earlier this year, the TWA Hotel was named among the top five best airport hotels globally at the Skytrax World Airport Awards.
Time magazine included the hotel on its list of 'The World's Greatest Places of 2019'. British travel YouTuber Hannah Ricketts visited and described the lobby as one of the 'coolest entrances' she had ever seen. She paid around $400 (£300) for a deluxe runway-view room, with standard rooms starting at about $200.
Guest Experience and Reviews
Ricketts noted that the hotel felt like stepping back in time, with period details like a vintage Coca Cola machine. She said, 'This looks so much better in person. I feel like the camera isn't going to do it justice.' She compared the atmosphere to the set of Mad Men, calling the building 'utterly stunning'.
'I've never been anywhere like this in my life. And it's obviously pristine where it's been refurbed. It's almost surreal. Wow,' she added. The rooftop pool costs $25 (£19) to use, even for guests, but Ricketts described it as 'insane'.
She enjoyed a Mile-High Margarita aboard the converted plane and said, 'If you want to plan this, it's a really positive end to a trip.' Her only criticism was the food, which she rated 5/10. However, she called the overall experience immersive and said she would happily repeat it. Summing up, she said, 'This is a four-star hotel, I would say this is literally better than quite a lot of the five-star hotels we've been looking at.'
