The multifaceted project would do little to solve the airport’s notorious record on flight delays. But travelers should find it easier to get in and out of J.F.K. and to maneuver between the terminals, which are now connected by a tangle of roadways.

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Turning J.F.K. into an experience travelers can embrace is a tall order for an airport that consistently receives a failing report card. Kennedy ranked 14th in customer satisfaction among the 24 largest airports in the country in a survey by J.D. Power that was released last month. (The airport that ranked last was Newark Liberty International in New Jersey, which also is operated by the Port Authority.)

About one-fourth of the flights into J.F.K. arrive late, compared with about 17 percent at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, the world’s busiest airport.

Still, the changes Mr. Cuomo announced would have only minor effects on flight delays, if any, because they do not include an additional runway or improvements in the air-traffic control system. The same is true at New York’s other airport, La Guardia, which is also undergoing a multibillion dollar rebuilding project that is not aimed at addressing chronic flight delays. Travelers at both airports might find still find themselves waiting for delayed flights, but their surroundings would at least be more pleasant and comfortable.

At J.F.K., the new terminals — one to be built by a consortium of four foreign airlines and one by JetBlue Airways — will take several years to complete. In the meantime, the Port Authority plans to spend $1 billion on improvements to roadways and other infrastructure within the airport grounds.