The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners authorized $110 million toward two expansion projects at Newark Liberty International Airport’s award-wining Terminal A. The two projects consist of a southern expansion adding two gates, set to open in 2029, and a northern expansion adding six gates, set to open in phases beginning in 2030.

Terminal A, which opened to widespread acclaim in 2023, was designed to accommodate future expansion. The original terminal was designed to serve approximately 13 million passengers annually. However, demand has exceeded those forecasts, with approximately 18 million passengers using the terminal in 2024. The expansion plans advance the Port Authority’s ambitious EWR Vision Plan, which includes a new Terminal B and new AirTrain system. The Vision Plan aims to reimagine the airport as a world-class facility to meet the growing needs of passengers, airlines and the surrounding community.

“Newark Liberty is a front door to our state, and a gateway to the nation and world. It should make travel easy and efficient for passengers, and reflect the very best of New Jersey,” said New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill. “Terminal A has set a new standard and attracted far more passengers than anticipated. This expansion will help us meet that demand and the needs of those travelers, create good-paying jobs, and continue building the modern, world-class airport New Jerseyans deserve.”

“When Terminal A opened nearly four years ago, it showed New Jersey and the world what was possible when we set our mind on delivering world-class facilities,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “We left room for growth back then, and now after the terminal shattered passenger forecasts, it’s time to make good on those ambitions. These new gates will add modern new passenger spaces on par with the current stunning terminal, as well as additional flexibility for airport operations.”

“These expansions at Terminal A are a critical step in our larger plan to overhaul and modernize Newark Liberty so it can earn its place alongside our other lauded redevelopments at LaGuardia and JFK,” said Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia. “These new gates, along with a new, world-class Terminal B, a modern, reliable AirTrain system, and redesigned roadway and taxiway networks will make for a wholly transformed passenger experience from curb to gate for Newark travelers.”

Newark Liberty’s new $2.7 billion Terminal A opened in 2023, immediately garnering widespread praise and awards, including recognition as the World's Best New Airport Terminal and a prestigious five-star rating by Skytrax in 2024. The 1-million-square-foot space includes 33 gates with light-filled concourses, state-of-the-art digital technology, modern passenger amenities, superior dining and retail options, and inspiring art that showcases local artists. The terminal was designed to account for future expansion to both the north and south. In 2024, the terminal was utilized by approximately 18 million passengers, nearly 40 percent more than originally projected.

Of the $110 million approved by the Port Authority Board of Commissioners, $100 million will fund the design and construction of Terminal A’s expansion to the south. The southern expansion will encompass an additional 25,000 square feet of space, inclusive of two new common-use gates, adjacent seating areas, men’s, women’s and all-gender restrooms, and grab-and-go concession space. Construction on the southern expansion is set to begin in 2027, with completion planned for 2029.

While the southern expansion moves to construction, planning will begin on the northern expansion. The additional $10 million approved by the Board of Commissioners will fund planning work for the northern expansion, anticipated to encompass six additional common-use gates. The agency will work to develop cost estimates, construction phasing and other supporting activities ahead of an anticipated project authorization in 2027. A phased opening of the northern expansion is planned from 2030 to 2032.

Both projects are expected to generate significant economic activity. Including indirect and induced effects, the total economic impact of the southern expansion amounts to 750 job-years, $76.6 million in wages and $173 million in economic activity. Initial planning work for the northern expansion is projected to reach 70 job-years, $7.7 million in wages and $17.3 million in economic activity.

The Terminal A expansion advances the Port Authority’s EWR Vision Plan, a wide-ranging blueprint setting the course for the Newark Liberty International Airport’s continued development over the coming decades to accommodate passenger growth with modern, world-class terminals on par with the existing Terminal A, as well as the agency’s lauded redevelopments of LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International airports. It charts a comprehensive reimagining of the airport, complete with modern terminals and infrastructure, a new, modern AirTrain system, a more intuitive roadway network, and a redesigned taxiway network to accommodate more aircraft and reduce delays. The blueprint enables the airport to handle future growth, while serving the evolving needs of passengers, airlines, and the surrounding community. It was developed following extensive outreach to airport tenants, operational partners, and the public. 

Redeveloping Newark Liberty International Airport

The Port Authority is in the midst of a complete redevelopment of Newark Liberty International Airport that began with the 2023 opening of Terminal A – the centerpiece of an airport-wide renaissance designed to establish the airport as a world-class gateway for the New Jersey and New York region. The airport’s redevelopment is outlined in the agency’s EWR Vision plan to accommodate future growth and deliver a world-class air travel experience from curb to gate. Major elements of the redevelopment of Newark Liberty include: 

  • Terminal development: A new world-class international terminal to replace the current Terminal B, while enhancing Terminal C to improve the customer experience. Both would complement the airport’s award-winning new Terminal A that opened in January 2023, which could also see further expansion. The spacious, streamlined terminals would allow the airport to accommodate continued growth in passenger volume, while leaving space for further expansion as needed. 
  • Airside development: Improving airport operations with a more efficient and resilient taxiway network, while accommodating the industry trend toward larger aircraft. The new network would increase parking capacity and flexibility for aircraft, while creating redundancies to minimize delays during irregular operations. It incorporates additional deicing facilities, allowing aircraft to push off from gates more quickly. It would also include the industry’s latest safety standards, increasing straight taxiway segments and minimizing the need for crossings. 
  • Landside development: Transformation of the airport’s vehicular and multi-modal access, prioritizing efficiency and convenience for all users. Alongside terminal buildings, frontages would be expanded to meet industry standards, providing ample space for passenger waiting, loading and unloading while minimizing walking distances. AirTrain access would be simplified, while connectivity and amenities for cyclists, pedestrians, and service vehicles would be improved. The roadway network would also be streamlined to reduce decision points and separate major flows with independent circulation for each terminal. 
  • AirTrain Newark: Replacing the outdated AirTrain Newark with a modern, 2.5-mile automated train system to accommodate a ridership forecasted to grow by 50 percent by 2040. A critical component of the airport, the system carries about 33,000 passengers and employees daily, or approximately 12 million passengers annually. It provides access to Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT’s Northeast Corridor lines via the Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station, and allows customers and employees to transfer between terminals, parking lots, and rental car facilities.
  • Newark station access: The Port Authority is constructing a new entry point to Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT’s Newark Liberty International Airport Rail Station on the Northeast Corridor line, enabling easier and faster mass transit options for residents of Newark and Elizabeth to get to the airport and New York City. The new entryway will give local residents direct access to the Airport Train station, providing the community with the ability to take mass transit either to the airport via AirTrain Newark or to New York City via NJ TRANSIT. The project will also improve connections to PATH train service from Newark-Penn Station for access to Jersey City and Manhattan.