Here’s When the Next Wing of Newark Airport’s $2.7B Terminal A Opens

The remaining wing of Newark Liberty Airport’s new $2.7 billion Terminal A will be opened over the course of three months this summer, marking the completion of the massive project.

The east and south wings of the main terminal building, consisting of 21 gates, opened to the public on Jan. 12, with the projected opening the north wing housing the remaining 12 gates, retail and other amenities planned later in the year.

“At Newark, an enormously significant milestone is in front of us,” said Rick Cotton, Port Authority executive director. “The second phase of the terminal opening, which will complete its opening, will take place on a phased basis in the three months beginning June, July (and) August.”

Two gates opened in June along with the United lounge, said Tom Prietrykoski, a Port Authority spokesperson. United Airlines 15,000-square-foot United Club in Terminal A opened on June 28, according to the airline.

“All aspects of the opening are anticipated to be completed by the middle of September, bringing to life the full vision of the new Terminal A,” Cotton said.

The new 1-million square-foot Terminal A was ceremonially opened on Nov. 15 at a ribbon cutting ceremony with Gov. Phil Murphy and other dignitaries. Besides being larger than the old terminal by 400,000-square-feet, the new building featured local Jersey centric art, interior themes and decor that stressed that the airport is in New Jersey, not New York.

While an announced Dec. 8 opening date was announced after the ceremony, that date was put off because of issues fine tuning the building fire and security alarm systems. Officials pushed the opening to January rather than bring a new building on line during the busy Christmas holiday travel season.

Port Authority officials projected 5.3 million people will use its metro area airports. The July 4th holiday travel period got off to a rough start this week with flight delays and cancelations that stranded flyers at at Newark Airport, which was blamed on bad weather and short staffing of air traffic controllers and airline crews.

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Larry Higgs may be reached at [email protected].

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