JFK Airport, New York 1973

A 1970s color photo of the interior of a terminal at JFK Airport, New York in 1973. The vast, open-plan departure lounge features a clean, modernist aesthetic with white support pillars and a grid of square recessed ceiling lights. In the foreground, rows of blue and brown molded plastic seats are arranged behind a low white railing, while passengers in period attire—including a woman in a vibrant blue dress—walk through the spacious hall. A large number “5” is mounted on a far wall near a mezzanine level, and a Northwest Orient information board is visible, capturing the orderly and high-tech atmosphere of international travel in the early 1970s.

Today, JFK International Airport has seen nearly all of its original mid-century terminals undergo massive redevelopment to accommodate modern security requirements and significantly higher passenger volumes. The terminal interiors from the 1970s, characterized by these specific seating styles and minimalist signage, have been replaced by contemporary glass-and-steel designs featuring digital displays and extensive retail concourses. Northwest Orient Airlines eventually became Northwest Airlines before merging with Delta Air Lines in 2008. While the airport remains a global aviation hub, the quiet, spacious lounge environment pictured here has evolved into a much denser, more automated traveler experience.

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