Initially intended to open before the 2022 holiday season, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's new Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)finally opened on January 12th, 2023. The new terminal cost a whopping $2.7 billion and involved the construction of eight new automobile bridges and a massive new parking garage. With construction complete and the terminal operational for over half a year, we took a deeper look at what the new facility is like and what travelers should know.

What airlines operate out of terminal A?

Currently, the terminal operates 21 different gates, with the remaining 12 to become operational later this year. The terminal is primarily utilized by American Airlines, which connects the airport to five major operational hubs. Furthermore, JetBlue uses the facility, operating flights to 13 year-round destinations with four additional seasonal services. Air Canada also uses the terminal for its flights to six Canadian destinations.

Photo: Alexander Mitchell | Simple Flying

Another critical point to note is that United Airlines also operates a selection of domestic flights out of terminal A. In the past, all United flights in and out of the airports were served from Terminal C, with the limited exception of international arrivals, as the only Customs and Border Protection processing facility at the airport is located in Terminal B. Passengers flying United out of Newark should be sure to double-check which terminal their flight is operating from. Delta Air Lines is set to begin operations from the new terminal as well; previously, Delta's flights operated out of Terminal B.

New facilities

The airport's new terminal is bright and airy, with a cavernous central plaza after the security checkpoint. While Newark's three older terminals (the still operational B and C and the former A) had architectural elements of dark concrete in a brutalist style, the new terminal has a welcoming, spacious interior full of white marble.

Photo: Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

A variety of gourmet dining options are available in the main dining area, alongside a Starbucks, Playa Bowls, and a New York-style bagel shop. The terminal's three concourses extend in opposite directions from the central atrium, and gates are at most a ten-minute walk from the primary security checkpoint. The terminal also features sweeping views of the airport's main runway as well as the expansive freight terminal.

Modernized security

The airport also features a variety of technological innovations, which are most prevalent at the airport's security checkpoints. The entrance to the security screening area has been automated, and passengers scan their boarding passes to enter through any number of gates. Furthermore, new millimeter wave scanners and new baggage screening machines with a unique tube-like shape have been installed.

Photo: Alexander Mitchell | Simple Flying

When exiting the airport, passengers are again surrounded by new technology. Automated one-way doors allow passengers to leave the terminal's post-security area, depositing them right at the baggage claim. These modernizations make traveling through the airport's security checkpoints more efficient and stress-free than ever.