QUEENS NY: At a meeting convened last week for the Sikh community, by New York City Assemblyman, Rory Lancman, the Port Authority has agreed to provide prayer facilities for Sikhs at the John F Kennedy Airport in New York. The meeting was attended by Susan Baer, Gen Manager, Aviation, JFK airport, and Jerry Spampanato, Deputy General Manager, Aviation, JFK, who both agreed that there was a need for a prayer room for Sikh travelers.

The meeting took place on November 30th at the Chapel Museum Hall at John F. Kennedy Airport’s Terminal 4. Assemblyman Lancman, who has a large Sikh population in his constituency of 25th District, Queens, said, “The Sikh community is a growing population in Queens, and many Sikhs go back and forth to India quite regularly.

Sikhs travelers deserve a place to worship at JFK airport alongside those currently set aside for  other faiths, and I am very pleased that the Port Authority has committed  to work with the community to obtain this goal.” Most airports in the US do have meditation rooms used for prayers by passengers. Other Port Authorities are also expected by the Sikh community to accomodate Sikhs similarly.

The JFK airport is a hub for Sikh travelers. "The Port Authority’s accommodation of Sikhs’ needs is a step in the right direction,” said Avtar Singh Pannu, President of the Sikh Cultural Society, Gurdwara, Queens, which is the oldest Gurdwara on the East Coast.