Beginning March 1, JFK will close one runway (13R/31L),which is also the longest at 14,572 ft, for four months. JFK has three other runways with lengths of 8,400; 10,000; 11,351.
How can this temporary closure have such an effect when airports with fewer runways and ranked higher in total aircraft movements don't? (Phoenix-3 (9th); Frankfurt-3 (12th); London Heathrow-3 (14th); JFK-4 (18th). Newark, ranked 19th, has 3 runways (of which one is 6,000 ft and isn't used for wide-bodied aircraft.
Using the above statistics, one could assume that the problem is not the airport itself but with management. On more than one occasion, LHR has closed one of its runways and didn't have a total system effect that JFK is about to experience. However, there have been a time or three when LHR did have problems and the effects were felt globally. This alone should be an indicator that something needs to change when one airport can have such a drastic effect on the entire system.
So, those planning on traveling to the US or Europe in the next four months may want to avoid JFK, and also plan accordingly for possible delays from your departure airport.
Peace.