John F. Kennedy International Airport (IATA: JFK, ICAO: KJFK, FAA LID: JFK) is a major airport in the borough of Queens in New York City, owned by the City of New York and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under a long-term operating lease. It is about 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Lower Manhattan. It is the busiest international air passenger gateway in the United States, handling more international traffic than any other airport in North America. It is also the third-leading freight gateway to the country by value of shipments. In 2014, the airport handled 53,254,362 passengers, making it the 18th-busiest airport in the world and sixth-busiest in the United States by passenger traffic. Together, JFK International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty airports, all operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, are the largest airport system in the United States, second in the world in terms of passenger traffic, and first in the world by total flight operations.

Dedicated as New York International Airport in 1948, the airport was more commonly known as Idlewild Airport until 1963, when it was renamed in memory of John F. Kennedy, the 35th President of the United States.

Over 90 airlines operate out of JFK. It is the base of operations for JetBlue Airways and is a major international gateway hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines. In the past, it has been a hub for Eastern Air Lines, Gemini Air Cargo, National Airlines, Pan American World Airways andTrans World Airlines. It is one of only three airports in North America, the other two being Toronto Pearson International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport (effective June 18, 2015), with scheduled direct flights to all six inhabited continents.