AirTrain JFK, the 8.1-mile rail link serving JFK International Airport in New York City, will begin accepting fare payments using the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (MTA) OMNY Tap and Go contactless payment readers starting Oct. 10. OMNY will be available at select gates in both the Jamaica and Howard Beach stations, where an $8.25 one-way fare is required to enter or exit the system. The AirTrain remains free for travel between airport terminals.
“We are making it easier than ever for travelers to take the train to JFK and for visitors to our great city to use one of its most essential services – the MTA,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. “As we continue to rollout OMNY throughout the system, I encourage everyone to take advantage of this service and travel safely.”
The new fare payment system will accept contactless debit/credit cards, digital wallets and OMNY cards. Fare gates that accept MetroCards will remain available and an option for customers. The initial installation of OMNY at the Jamaica and Howard Beach stations represents the first phase of the integration process. The number of OMNY-equipped gates will steadily increase over the next 15 months. By the end of 2024, the OMNY “Tap and Go” contactless readers will be fully integrated into all fare gates.
"We're dedicated to enhancing every customer journey through our facilities and this integration of easy-to-use contactless payments at AirTrain JFK supports this commitment. Contactless payment systems like OMNY provide a tap-and-pay method that is convenient and quick for both our region’s residents and for travelers from other parts of the U.S. and from other countries,” said Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) Executive Director Rick Cotton.
“In September, subway and bus customers tapped more than 2 million times on a single day and now they’ll be able to use OMNY at the AirTrain JFK for much quicker passenger flow to and from the airport. Whether you’re headed to catch a plane or returning home to New York, AirTrain riders can now take full advantage of this time-saving and seamless way to travel in the city,” said MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber.
PANYNJ notes existing 30-day unlimited cards and discounted 10-trip cards for groups or frequent riders of AirTrain JFK are available through the AirTrain MetroCard that can be purchased at the stations’ MetroCard vending machines or at the news retailers on site. Reduced-Fare customers who cannot use their Reduced-Fare MetroCard to swipe at AirTrain JFK gates can tap with the contactless payment device linked to their Reduced-Fare bank card or OMNY card at the AirTrain JFK’s OMNY readers and pay the full AirTrain fare.
AirTrain JFK stations are operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with customer service agents available on site for assistance. OMNY market share of paid subway rides continue to be at or above 45 percent.
Customers have tapped into the transit system more than a billion times, with the billionth tap occurring on July 26. According to PANYNJ, in the latest Spring 2023 Customers Count Survey, OMNY posted a 79 percent fare payment satisfaction rate. Customers have tapped into all 472 subway stations and boarded 204 local bus routes and 31 express buses. OMNY has processed bank cards from each of the 195 countries that issued them.
"At the airports, our job is to provide a consistent, world-class customer experience for travelers from around the world. Contactless readers offers travelers an intuitive, hassle-free fare payment option and will greatly improve the customer experience at AirTrain JFK,” said PANYNJ Chairman Kevin O'Toole.
“This is a major step toward the full implementation of OMNY throughout the New York region. Now whether you live in New York or you’re just visiting, you can experience the convenience and reliability of tap-and-go,” said MTA Construction and Development President Jamie Torres-Springer.
