Although, as Otrere states, it was first known as Idlewild airport, because it was built partly on nearby Idlewild Golf Course, it was opened to its first flight, July 1, 1948 and was dedicated as New York International Airport on July 31 of that same year, although the name "Idlewild" remained in common use and the airport's IATA (International Air Transport Association) code was IDL.
On December 24th, 1963, it was renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport to honor the memory of the late President John F. Kennedy, and hence received the new IATA airport code of JFK....