If you are planning on flying out of John F. Kennedy Airport and are  coming from Manhattan, US  Helicopter Corp. has initiated a new service that will take you directly to the airport and prescreen you for security. The Transportation Safety Administration will have a security counter  at the  heliport in Manhattan to screen passengers  so that JFK’s security can be bypassed.

The time  savings getting to the airport using  the new service can save at least 2 hours and make the trip much more efficient to justify the 159 dollar one way fare. For the average traveler, this would be an extravagant expenditure, but for the business executive looking to maximize their time it is a very good deal. Plus you get a great view of New York City.

U.S. Helicopter Corp. chief executive Jerry Murphy says the eight-minute rides, which cost $159 each way, will appeal mainly to business travelers who don’t want to waste up to two hours in a car or cab fighting New York traffic.
Murphy said his helicopters, the first to offer airport service in more than 20 years, also will fly to LaGuardia and Newark airports by the end of 2006. The company expects to carry 150,000 passengers in its first year.
“This will be a faster, more reliable system to get from New York City to the airports,” he said.
Some critics are questioning whether the TSA should be helping a business that primarily caters to wealthy corporate clients and the rich and famous. via USATODAY.com

More on US Helicopters service to JFK from Newsday.

US Helicopter Web Site