Airport Experience® News - Pre-Conference Issue 2026

LATEST BUZZ

District-inspired W. 12th St. Market; cosmetic and fragrance boutique Beauty on 5th; skincare and spirits store The Park at T8; wine, spirit, fragrance and confection retailer BKLYN Shopping; global fashion merchant Chic Luxury Boutiques; liquor and tobacco retailer The Connoisseur Collection and built-in speakeasy Blinded Tiger; as well as fashion jewelry, leather goods and watch store The Collection. “For the passengers, it will be an incrementally different experience that highlights all the best from NYC to Queens, and everything in between,” says Hari of the new concessions. “For the local small businesses, it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to determine their future in airports and scale their business.” Parekh agrees. “The businesses that are operating in the accelerator program have shared with us that the customers that buy products from them are excited – they see something that they might not have found elsewhere,” he adds. “I think it’s a testament to the fact that when you are offering airport customers something that is unique, not your standard run-of-the-mill thing you might get at any airport around the country, people want that and they want to support a local business,” says Parekh. “When they go home, they want to be able to say ‘Look, this is something that I bought that will help me remember my time in New York,’” he adds.

Left, Above: Local is a big focus in JFK T8, with F&B brands like Dos Toros and Zaro’s, and retail brands such as Alchemy and Natchie, all bringing a sense of place to the terminal.

The offering is even appealing to locals, adds Parekh. “We’ve heard that the terminal employees have been actually one of the strongest customer bases for these accelerators,” he says, “because they’re a great place to buy gifts for their loved ones.” “NYC is the best melting pot in the world,” adds Hari. “We are incredibly proud of the unique experience we have created that lowers barriers to entry, introduces first-to airport concepts, and creates a lasting impact for both employees and passengers.”

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AX NEWS FEBRUARY 2026