In January, we began flight operations at Newark Liberty International Airport’s (EWR) New Terminal A. The highly anticipated, $2.7 billion facility is a massive upgrade from the now-closed previous Terminal A. From the moment you arrive curbside, you’re greeted with eye-catching digital signage, and once you’re inside the terminal, beautiful local artwork and plenty of space allow for a more inviting and relaxing airport experience.
At approximately 1 million square feet, the terminal offers dining and retail options provided by 60 regional, national, and global brands, including six New Jersey retailers from Newark, Elizabeth, and Jersey City. The gates are capable of handling larger aircraft, while the lobby and concourses areas support an improved customer experience with a modernized check-in process, an upgraded security checkpoint, and state-of-the-art gates to efficiently handle passengers from several airlines, including United.
The new Terminal A also features a variety of sustainable design initiatives inside and outside the terminal to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Among them are solar panels on the curbside glass canopy and roof of the integrated parking structure, new electric buses to support shuttle operations, and energy-efficient indoor lighting and controls.
United flights departing from and arriving to the new terminal are operated with mainline aircraft, including our entire Airbus fleet stationed at Newark. We’ve started with 11 preferential-use gates before increasing to 17 later this year. A new United Club is expected to open in spring 2023.
“Our team did a tremendous job training and preparing in the days and months leading up to opening day,” says Rodney Cox, United’s Vice President at Newark. “We’ve maintained consistent communication with our partners to help quickly resolve unforeseen challenges while helping make sure we provide the best experience for our customers.”
One of the highlights of opening day was a water cannon salute featuring a United aircraft, UA 1533, arriving from Palm Beach International. New York and New Jersey media were on hand to capture the moment.
“Opening New Terminal A is a milestone achievement for us,” says John Weigand, Managing Director of Airport Operations at Newark. “We have a great team running it, and we’re optimistic this will help generate longterm improvement for our operation.”
