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Roel Huinink oversees operations of John F. Kennedy International Airport\u2019s Terminal 4. <\/p>\n
Photo provided by Roel Huinink<\/p>\n
Holiday travelers flying out of John F. Kennedy International Airport<\/a> may not realize their trip begins closer to Long Island than they think: The person overseeing the daily operations of Terminal 4<\/a>, one of JFK\u2019s busiest gateways, is a Manhasset resident.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve always liked aviation because aviation has something magical,\u201d said Roel Huinink, chief executive officer of JFK International Air Terminal. \u201cIt\u2019s about flying. It\u2019s about traveling. I really like to enjoy and travel and work in different cultures.\u201d<\/p>\n Though he oversees major decisions for the terminal, Huinink said his daily work often centers on walking the terminal and speaking with staff. \u201cSometimes I call myself the mayor of Terminal 4,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Huinink and his family moved to Manhasset in 2018 after he was hired to lead the private company that develops and manages Terminal 4. He is originally from the Netherlands, which he said has ties to Nassau County and New York as a whole.<\/p>\n \u201cNassau is the name of the Royal Dutch family,\u201d he said. \u201cThere\u2019s quite a lot of Dutch history here in New York.\u201d<\/p>\n Huinink holds a master\u2019s degree in mechanical engineering. After working in the offshore oil industry for a short period, he transitioned to airport work \u2014 first in Amsterdam, then in Stockholm, Sweden. He later relocated to Oslo, Norway, where he operated a fashion company with stores in airports.<\/p>\n He was later approached about the CEO job but was hesitant because his sons, then 11 and 13, had moved around \u201cquite a bit\u201d by that time. But after interviewing and visiting New York, he accepted the position, secured a visa and moved to Manhasset in the summer of 2018. He has now served as CEO for seven years.<\/p>\n Huinink said his company operates Terminal 4 under a long-term lease with the Port Authority, which owns JFK. Under that lease, his company has the right to build, develop and manage the terminal, which he said employs 10,000 to 12,000 people.\u00a0<\/p>\n When T4 first opened in 2001, it had 4 million passengers, Huinink said. This year Terminal 4 is expected to handle around 28 million passengers.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThat means you constantly invest in expanding the business, investing in the quality of the building, and investing in technology,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Delta Air Lines is its largest customer, he said, along with about 20 other international airlines, including Emirates, Air India, Copa Airlines and LATAM.<\/p>\n One of Huinink\u2019s current projects includes rebuilding more than 70 restaurant and retail spaces. Many of the new concepts come from local entrepreneurs, he said, including For Five Coffee Roasters<\/a>, founded in Queens by owners who now live in Manhasset. Huinink said that nearly 40% of the $1.5 billion investment program \u2014 more than $400 million \u2014 went to local, small, and minority- and women-owned businesses.<\/p>\n Huinink said giving back to the community is important to him both in and outside of work. At work, this means prioritizing both environmental and social responsibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSustainability is an important value of mine,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said Terminal 4 is working on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving energy efficiency, conserving water, managing waste and enhancing biodiversity.\u00a0<\/p>\n The company also runs a corporate social responsibility program called 4 Good. This year, he said, the company donated $20,000 to American Friends of Jamaica to support residents affected by Hurricane Melissa.<\/p>\n