WHSmith will open eight new stores in JFK’s Terminal One, which is slated to debut in 2026 following a recent contract win. The expansion builds on WHSmith’s presence in Terminal 5 and will include the airport’s first WHSmith-branded store alongside curated retail concepts.
Highlights
- WHSmith has been awarded eight new stores in John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
- The new shops will introduce WHSmith’s first branded store at JFK, along with custom retail concepts.
- With the new store openings, WHSmith is expanding its presence across the US East Coast.
WHSmith Expands at JFK with Major Terminal One Win
WHSmith North America has significantly expanded its presence across some major US East Coast airports. With a growing footprint and a wave of new store openings, WHSmith has become a key player in the East Coast travel retail scene.
WHSmith currently operates more than 50 stores on the East Coast, including locations at Newark and LaGuardia in New York, and at Reagan and Dulles airports in the D.C. area.
“Our win in the iconic JFK airport demonstrates growing demand for our world-class travel essentials offer and why North America is our most exciting opportunity for growth. This is significant for WHSmith North America and our partners, and we are delighted that our leading travel essentials proposition has been selected for the highly anticipated New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport,” WHSmith CEO Carl Cowling.
“The team is always working hard to enhance and improve our offer and strengthen our partnerships with local suppliers, and this award is testament to their efforts. We look forward to bringing a distinctly New York experience to our stores as passengers travel through the new terminal,” he added.
Two Own-Brand Formats
The Terminal One locations will feature two WHSmith concepts: Travel Essentials and Skybound by WHSmith. It will also include a number of locally focused store experiences, including The Queens Borough Market, and The Canopy.
The stores will spotlight local products, suppliers, and New York’s vibrant culture. WHSmith will partner with three Airport Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE) partners.
WHSmith will partner with local businesses to keep community voices at the heart of its retail strategy. The JFK expansion further solidifies WHSmith’s growing role in the U.S. travel retail market.
