Delta has announced plans to renovate its existing JFK facilities at Terminal 4 with a $1.2 billion dollar expansion project slated to be completed by 2013.

According to Bloomberg, the Port Authority recently approved plans for the massive project, which will see the existing space expanded by 418,000 square-feet.

As part of the renovations, the airline will knock down Terminal 3, formerly used by PanAm, in order to link the expanded hub with Terminal 2, which Delta currently operates out of as well. When all is said and done, Delta will have an additional nine gates

JFK is a major hub for corporate travel, as the company operates numerous international flights out of the space daily. However, criticism from customers convinced the carrier that it was time for a change.

“Customers equate that to a third-world country, and I think they’re right,” said Delta treasurer Paul Jacobson. “We’ve got to improve facilities at JFK.”

In addition to the extra gates, the new facility will also feature more taxiways for planes, a larger baggage claim area and moving sidewalks between the two terminals.