Phase I of the Newark Airport Terminal A project is virtually complete and the facility will be open to passengers by December. Therefore, an opening ceremony was hosted recently to showcase the major changes and exciting renovations that travelers will experience. New Jersey’s Governor, Phil D. Murphy, graced the occasion and he was impressed with the new facilities.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has been overseeing the construction phase of the project since 2018. The agency started the $2.7 billion Newark Airport Terminal A expansion to overturn the airport’s notorious reputation for delays. In recent times, the airport has always been rated each year, as one of the most delayed in the country.
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The Newark Airport Terminal A expansion is adding a new one-million-square-foot terminal, which will replace the existing 50- year old terminal. At the opening event, the officials gave a tour of the facility. They revealed that the new terminal was about 20% bigger than the old terminal.
The original design for the old Terminal A at Newark Airport was intended to cater to 9 million passengers annually. Unfortunately, it has served millions more than that for years, which made the building feel cramped and overall outdated. But once the Terminal A project is complete, it will accommodate up to 13.6 million passengers annually.
Development plans for the Newark Airport Terminal A project
The Port Authority’s Chairman, Kevin O’Toole, mentioned that Newark Airport’s Terminal A will have 33 gates in total. However, he said that only the first 21 gates will be operational by December. According to O’Toole, this slight delay was due to the pandemic, which slowed down the construction process. As a result, the remaining 12 gates will open for passengers in the next nine months.
Governor Phil Murphy described the airport’s new Terminal A as a new, modern, bright, comfortable, expressive, frankly extraordinary facility. He praised the plethora of amenities included in Newark Airport’s Terminal A, which are aimed at pleasing passengers. Four lanes of drop-offs and pick-ups will be available at curbs. What’s more, the facility offers touchless security and boarding experiences as well as the most-advanced TSA scanners in the U.S.
