It is not often that air travellers have the option to take a short, direct walk from their hotel into the airport terminal to catch a flight. But island residents and visitors to Bermuda who use New York’s JFK International Airport will have that choice from next spring.

The new TWA Hotel, which incorporates parts of the iconic former TWA Flight Centre, will have 512 guestrooms. A crosswalk links it to the entrance of Terminal 5, alternatively guests can use enclosed tubelike walkways that directly connect the hotel to the terminal.

JetBlue Airways uses Terminal 5, from where it operates flights to and from Bermuda. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines also fly direct to Bermuda from JFK; American Airlines uses Terminal 8, while Delta uses Terminal 2. All the terminals are linked by the free AirTrain elevated railway.

The TWA Flight Centre was designed by Eero Saarinen and opened in 1962. Its futuristic exterior and interior made it a landmark building. It closed in 2001 and portions of the complex were demolished, however, the birdlike head house was kept and has since been listed on the US National Register of Historic Places; it will be the hotel’s lobby.

Two low-rise, glass-fronted curtain wall hotel buildings have been created, and partially wraps around the rear of the head house. Many of the guestrooms feature views of the airport runways. The “ultra quiet” rooms feature glass windows that are the second thickest in the world — seven panes and 4½ inches thick.

The guestrooms are Sixties-inspired with mid-century furnishings, including a working vintage rotary phone in every room and Hollywood-style bathroom vanity fittings. There is a rooftop pool and 10,000 sq ft observation desk, a similarly sized fitness centre, and a conference facility.

It is projected the hotel will have 10,000 daily visitors. The development is being led by MCR and Morse. MCR is the seventh largest hotel owner-operator in the US.

Robin Hayes, chief executive officer of JetBlue, which flies twice daily between Bermuda and Terminal 5, said: “This is one of the most highly anticipated hospitality developments in memory and we couldn’t be more excited to have JetBlue be part of it in partnership with MCR.”

Carlo Scissura, CEO of the New York Building Congress, said: “The redevelopment of that space into an on-airport hotel will rectify a major deficiency at JFK.”

While Tyler Morse, CEO of MCR and Morse Development, said: “From the moment guests and visitors arrive they will find themselves immersed in the ethos of 1962’s rich culture, architecture, sights, sounds and ambience. The attention to the smallest of details permeates the entire guest room experience, paying homage to the magnificent landmark and special time in American history.

“The rooms will provide unparalleled style and comfort to our guests as well as powerful views of Saarinen’s terminal or flights preparing for take-off through floor-to-ceiling, full-width, soundproofed windows.”

• For further details, visit https://www.twahotel.com/