by Travelers will have to wait a little longer to enjoy Newark’s stunning new Terminal A.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), announced Monday that it will delay the opening of the new $2.7 billion facility.
Originally slated to open Thursday, December 8, the 1 million square foot terminal will now begin welcoming passengers early next year. The delay was attributed to some last-minute readiness tests related to the facility’s fire detectors and security systems.
Although these systems are expected to be up and running within days, the Port Authority’s airline partners decided they didn’t want to open a new facility just days before one of the busiest holiday travel times in history.
Instead of postponing the opening by a week or two, the Port Authority will postpone the opening to early January 2023.
In a statement, the agency’s director of corporate communications, Thomas Pietrykoski, said that “we had planned to begin passenger operations at Newark’s new Terminal A on December 8, the fire detection and security systems have yet to pass their final tests.” We anticipate these issues to be resolved shortly. In response to concerns expressed by airlines about opening a brand new facility during the peak holiday travel season, the Port Authority will open the new Terminal A to the public in early January.”
The terminal has been a work in progress since 2018, ushering in a new era for the airport, historically considered one of the worst in the country. It’s perhaps the biggest upgrade yet for Newark passengers, and it will be a massive improvement compared to the outdated Terminal A, which will close along with the opening of the new facility.
Of course, travelers passing through the airport in the coming weeks might have been excited to tour the new facility, but the roughly month-long delay shouldn’t affect operations much, if at all, especially considering this isn’t an airline yet done has moved into the new terminal.
When it opens, Air Canada, American Airlines, JetBlue Airways and United Airlines (select flights only) will operate from the new Terminal A. Delta Air Lines plans to move into the new terminal when the second phase of construction opens next year.
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Despite the delay, travelers should definitely count the days until the new facility opens. That’s because it brings a number of upgrades to the passenger experience.
These include a revamped and modernized check-in experience with centralized security, new spacious gate areas, and other premium amenities like beautiful art exhibits and multiple power outlets at each seat, making transit through Newark vastly more comfortable and efficient.
Be sure to check out TPG’s in-depth first-look review for an in-depth look at all the upgrades.
