Ultra Swank - Retro Adventures

Eero Saarinens JFK Terminal – Home of Trans World Airlines

Written by Chris Alm • January 27th, 2010
Eero Saarinens JFK Terminal – Home of Trans World Airlines

The JFK Trans World Airlines (TWA) terminal was designed by the great Finnish architect Eero Saarinen. Built in a very modernist and expressionistic style it was completed in 1962 and set the standard for how modern jet travel was perceived back in its glory days.

You might have seen the building in a handful of movies, everything from Hell up in Harlem, Death Wish to Catch Me If You Can.

In 2005 JetBlue took over the operations of the old flight center after TWA merged with American Airlines in 2001 and sat empty for a couple of years, holding various exhibitions and art installations. The terminal is still in use today, but only as a gateway to the newly built terminal T5 that connects to it with ramps. The original building was sadly under dimensioned from the start and never had the capacity needed for today’s air travel requirements.

However, at least you can still get a glimpse of the 1960s vision of jet age travel before boarding your low fare flight to The Caribbean.

Source Modernesia   

Chris Alm

Christopher founded Ultra Swank in 2005. Has a crush on mid-century graphic design, defunct airlines, Disneyland and the Century 21 Exposition. Is a collector of easy listening music from the 60s and 70s and a Swedish expat living in Barcelona, Spain.

Find out more about Chris Alm

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