JetBlue eyes JFK's iconic TWA terminal as branded hotel

Is JetBlue getting into the hotel business?

JetBlue Airways Corp. is in talks with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey for the rights to turn the iconic Trans World Airlines terminal at John F. Kennedy Airport into a modern hotel, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Its partner is the New York-based hotel developer MCR Development LLC, the seventh largest hotel owner-operator in the U.S.

Many developers have eyed the former TWA terminal, which has attracted an array of proposals from candidates like Donald Trump and a group led by boutique hotelier Ian Schrager.

Hotel-Chatter reports that if the deal goes through it won't be a JetBlue-branded hotel and that carrier is just a minority investor.

But the way airport hotels are being developed, it's no wonder they want to get in on the action.  Graves Hospitality Group is developing a luxury hotel at the international airport in Minneapolis and a Westin hotel is coming to the airport in Denver, the Journal reported.

“Airport locations are hot,” R. Mark Woodworth, senior managing director athotel consultant and appraiser PKF Hospitality Research, told the newspaper.

Also, it wouldn't be the first time an airlines got into the hotel business.  Richard Branson announced the launch of Virgin Hotels earlier this year.