A man heading for a vacation in Cancun was arrested at JFK Airport yesterday for allegedly carrying a loaded semiautomatic handgun.

Michael Parrotta, 25, from Stamford, Conn., and his girlfriend were scheduled for a 9 a.m. American Airlines flight when TSA screeners spotted the .45-caliber Kimber in his backpack, sources said.

It allegedly had one round in its chamber and up to seven more in the magazine.

“I have a carry permit for Connecticut. I bring it to work with me for protection,” Parrotta told Port Authority cops, records show.

But a license from his home state doesn’t allow him to carry the weapon in New York — and on a plane. Firearms must be carried unloaded and in locked gun cases.

Parrotta was taken to Queens Central Booking for arraignment.