Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A now fully operational

Newark Liberty International Airport.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced, on 23 August 2023, the new Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is fully operational. The Port Authority also announced the opening of the final five gates of the terminal alongside additional retail and dining outlets and the transfer of Delta Air Lines operations and Sky Club lounge from Terminal B.

The new one million-square-foot Terminal A replaced the previous terminal that opened in 1973. The 33-gate facility features airy, light-filled concourses alongside state-of-the-art digital technology, modern passenger amenities, superior dining and retail options, and an innovative public art programme showcasing dozens of local artists. Terminal A has been designed and constructed to the standards of LEED silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

With Terminal A now fully operational, the Port Authority has committed to a full re-envisioning of the entire airport complex. The agency last year selected a world-renowned master planner to design a framework for future development through 2065, recommending short- and long-term projects to enable economic growth, drive sustainability efforts, and create a world-class gateway for New Jersey and the region. The plan’s development includes extensive community outreach and participation.

“The full rebirth of Newark Liberty International Airport begins with this gleaming new terminal,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.  “We are proud to welcome Delta Air Lines to its spectacular new home in Terminal A, as we embark on a comprehensive reimagining for the entire airport.”

“Newark Airport’s transformation is now taking off,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Newark Airport’s new Terminal A is yet another testament to the Port Authority’s commitment to bring our airport passengers the world class facilities they deserve. The agency’s largest-ever investment in New Jersey has certainly paid off.”

Delta Air Lines joins Air Canada, American Airlines, JetBlue, and United Airlines in the new Terminal A. The activation of five more gates completes the full operational complement of 33 gates in Terminal A. As of mid-August, the terminal has served over nine million passengers, and is on target to welcome the 10 millionth passenger in mid-September.

“Delta’s move to the transformed and modernised Terminal A helps us further enhance the travel journey for our Newark customers for years to come,” said Ginny Elliott, Delta Air Lines’s vice president of East Coast airport operations. “This relocation also makes it possible for us to open a new, larger Delta Sky Club, where lounge guests can relax and recharge before their flights.”

CREDIT: DELTA SKY CLUB

“We are very happy to welcome Delta Air Lines and the Delta Sky Club to Terminal A,” said Michael Kunz, CEO of Munich Airport NJ LLC., the terminal operator of the new Terminal A. “Their arrival marks a major milestone in achieving a full-operational status and sets the stage for continued world-class travel in and out of Terminal A.”

In addition to relocating to Terminal A, Delta has opened a new 7,000sqft passenger lounge with a design inspired by the city’s natural landscape and industrial past. The new space seats more than 200 guests and includes elevated views of the terminal and airfield. The lounge features acoustic systems designed to absorb outside sounds, providing visitors with a quiet refuge inside the bustling terminal. Guests of Delta’s Sky Club at Terminal A can enjoy a drink from either the premium bar or the beverage station, as well as buffet-style food offerings.

CREDIT: DELTA SKY CLUB

Additional local retail, food and beverage shops from Newark, Elizabeth, and Jersey City, as well as regional, national and global brands, provide passengers with more dining and retail options.

More upgrades are on the way at the airport. The privately financed Consolidated Rent-A-Car (ConRac) facility is expected to open later this year. The 2.7 million-square-foot facility will consolidate 10 rental car operations under one roof, allowing for a streamlined, simplified rental process. The terminal’s public parking facility features the largest rooftop solar panel installation in any U.S. airport along with more than 150 electric vehicle charging stations.

For travellers seeking mass transit options to the airport, the Port Authority is committed to building a brand-new AirTrain Newark system, which is integral to modernising and improving Newark Liberty. AirTrain Newark will be replaced through a multi-phase procurement process. Earlier this year, the agency selected three automated-people-mover (APM) system technology firms to advance to the next phase of a multi-phase procurement process to replace the existing AirTrain Newark system at Newark Liberty International Airport with a new 2.5-mile automated train system.

The AirTrain started operating in 1996 and is now outdated. It carries an average of 26,000 passengers per day and nearly 10 million passengers per year. It connects to the Northeast Corridor Rail Link Station and provides customers and employees with the ability to transfer among terminals, parking lots and rental car facilities.