$43 Million Animal Cargo Facility Opening at JFK Early 2016

1/22/2015

Some great news for pet owners who travel with their furry family members.

New York’s Kennedy Airport is trailblazing the travel world as plans are underway for the world’s first-ever comprehensive, multi-purpose animal handling and air cargo facility. A 30-year lease agreement with Ark Development, has been approved by the board of directors of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for this state of the art terminal.

Slated for its grand opening in early 2016, this unprecedented privately-owned facility, appropriately called “The Ark” will be designed and built by Ark Development, an affiliate of real estate corporation, Racebrook Capital. Racebrook is a private investment firm founded in 2004, formerly a portfolio company of Warburg Pincus, one of the oldest private equity firms in the world.

The Ark, a 178,000-square-foot terminal, is the first USDA-approved, 24-hour, full-service airport quarantine facility for import and export of horses, pets, birds, exotic/zoo animals and livestock. It will possess the same features as any other airport terminal, including a comfy departure lounge, as well as eateries.

According to John J. Cuticelli, Jr, the chairman of Racebrook Capital, this vision addresses “unmet needs and will set new international airport standards for comprehensive veterinary, kennelling and quarantine services.”

For dogs and cats, the facility will house a "Paradise 4 Paws" which is the premier resort for cats and dogs with two current locations near Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway Airports and Dallas / Fort Worth International Airport. Additionally, individual climate-controlled bedrooms for horses and cattle, as well as an onsite vet and an aviary for beloved feathered friends are set for inclusion at The Ark.

With more than 50 million people annually passing through Kennedy Airport - many traveling with companion, sporting and agricultural animals, the $43 million "Ark" terminal is sure to turn things around for man and beast alike, forever changing air travel for animals.

-Elisa

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Tanya

Tanya is a free sprit who resides in Southern California with the only family that she has outside of NY (you can take a girl out of the city, but you’ll never take the city out of this girl). Her housemates include her mom, her 2 sisters, her brother, her sister’s boyfriend, her niece, her 2 kids and her ex! Yup...all under one roof! Her professional career and background was in film (writing, production and acting). Currently she is a stay at home mom - who is hardly ever at home, and who’s passions are: everything travel related, food (both cooking and eating), photography, skiing and of course, shopping!

Elisa

Elisa is co-founder of Travelin' Cousins travel blog along with her cousin "Travelin' Tanya." She lives on Long Island, New York with her two daughters and her dog Punkin. An entrepreneur whose professional career has included a variety of businesses in the toy, licensing and direct marketing businesses, she is now a blogger and freelance writer. Since her teen years, she has traveled extensively throughout the United States, Europe and Asia and continues to travel these days throughout the world with her daughters and cousin Tanya. Her other passions include cooking, dining, the theatre and shopping.