Newark Liberty International Airport

Albert Einstein at Newark Airport in April 1939

Newark Metropolitan Airport opened on October 1, 1928, on 68 acres (28 ha) of reclaimed land along the Passaic River,[5] the first major airport serving passengers in the New York metro area.[9] The Art Deco style Newark Metropolitan Airport Administration Building, adorned with murals by Arshile Gorky,[10] was built in 1934 and dedicated by Amelia Earhart in 1935.[11] It served as the terminal until the opening of the North Terminal in 1953. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and is now a museum and Port Authority Police headquarters.

Newark was the busiest commercial airport in the world until LaGuardia Airport opened in December 1939; the March 1939 Official Aviation Guide shows 61 weekday departures on five airlines, but by mid-1940 passenger airlines had all left Newark.[12][13]

During World War II the field was closed to commercial aviation while it was taken over by the United States Army for logistics operations. In 1945 captured German aircraft brought from Europe on HMS Reaper for evaluation under Operation Lusty were off-loaded at Newark AAF and then flown or shipped to Freeman Field, Indiana or Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The airlines returned to Newark in February 1946. In 1948, the city of Newark leased the airport to the Port of New York Authority (now the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey). As part of the deal, the Port Authority took operational control of the airport and began investing heavily in capital improvements, including new hangars, a new terminal and runway 4/22.

The February 1947 C&GS diagram shows 5,940-foot (1,811 m) runway 1, 7,900-foot (2,408 m) runway 6 and 7,100-foot (2,164 m) runway 10.

On December 16, 1951, a Miami Airlines C-46 bound for Tampa lost a cylinder on takeoff from runway 28 and crashed in Elizabeth killing 56.[14] On January 22, 1952, an American Airlines CV-240 crashed in Elizabeth while on approach to Runway 6, killing all 23 aboard and seven on the ground.[15] On February 11, 1952, a National DC-6 crashed in Elizabeth after takeoff from runway 24, killing 29 of 63 on board and four on the ground.[16][17] Inevitably, the airport was closed for some months; airline traffic resumed later in the year, but the airport's continued unpopularity and the New York area's growing air traffic led to searches for new airport sites. A proposal to build a new airport at what is now the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge was defeated by local opposition.

The April 1957 Official Airline Guide showed 144 weekday passenger fixed-wing departures from Newark: 40 Eastern, 19 Capital, 16 American, 14 United, 14 Mohawk, 13 Allegheny, 11 TWA, 8 National, 5 Delta and 4 Braniff. National had a nonstop to Miami, Eastern had nonstops to Miami, New Orleans and Houston, Braniff had a nonstop DC-7C to Dallas and TWA flew nonstop to St Louis; no other nonstops to points west of St. Louis and no international nonstops.[18] (Eastern started a nonstop to Montreal in 1958, probably Newark's first scheduled international nonstop since 1939, though Eastern had nonstops to San Juan in 1951.) Jet airliners arrived in 1961. In 1964, American and TWA started flying nonstop to California, although Newark's longest runway was 7,000 ft (2,100 m) until 1970. TWA's 707 nonstop to Heathrow in 1978 was probably Newark's first trans-Atlantic nonstop.

Through the early 1970s, Newark had a single terminal building located on the north side of the field, by what is now Interstate 78.[19] In the 1970s the airport became Newark International Airport. Present Terminals A and B opened in 1973, although some charter and international flights requiring customs clearance remained at the North Terminal. The main building of Terminal C was completed at the same time, but only metal framing work was completed for the terminal's satellites. It lay dormant until the mid-1980s, when for a brief time the west third of the terminal was equipped for international arrivals and used for some People Express transcontinental flights. Terminal C was finally completed and opened in June 1988.

Underutilized in the 1970s, Newark expanded dramatically in the 1980s. People Express struck a deal with the Port Authority to use the North Terminal as its air terminal and corporate office in 1981 and began operations at Newark that April. It grew quickly, increasing Newark's traffic through the 1980s.[20] Virgin Atlantic began service between Newark and London in 1984, challenging JFK's status as New York's international gateway (but Virgin Atlantic now has more flights at JFK than at Newark). Federal Express (now known as FedEx Express) opened its second hub at the airport in 1986.[7] When People Express merged into Continental in 1987, operations (including corporate office operations) at the North Terminal were reduced and the building was demolished to make way for cargo facilities in the early 1990s. This merger started Continental's and later United Airlines', dominance at Newark Airport.

In late 1996 the monorail opened, connecting the three terminals, the overflow parking lots and garages, and the rental car facilities. A new International Arrivals Facility also opened in Terminal B that year.[9] The monorail was expanded to the new Newark Airport train station on Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line in 2001 and was renamed AirTrain Newark.

A July 2006 photograph of United Airlines Flight 93's departure gate, A17. Following the 9/11 attacks, American flags flew over the gates of the hijacked flights.

After the hijacking and crash of United Airlines Flight 93 in the September 11 attacks in 2001 while en route from Newark to San Francisco, the airport's name was changed from Newark International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport in 2002. This name was chosen over the initial proposal, Liberty International Airport at Newark, and pays tribute to the victims of the September 11 attacks and to the landmark Statue of Liberty, lying just 7 miles (11 km) east of the airport.[21][22]

A modern control tower was built in 2002 and opened in 2003. It is the fourth and tallest tower in the airport's history, standing 325 feet (99 m) over the main parking lot.[9] In 2004, Singapore Airlines began the world's longest non-stop scheduled airline route to Newark from Singapore. The service ended on November 23, 2013,[23] and resumed on 11 October 2018,[24] though was suspended on March 25, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[25]

Continental Airlines (now merged with United Airlines) began flying from Newark to Beijing on June 15, 2005, and to Delhi on November 1, 2005. The airline soon started flights to Mumbai. On July 16, 2007, Continental announced it would seek government approval for nonstop flights between Newark and Shanghai in 2009. Continental began flights to Shanghai from Newark on March 25, 2009, using Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. Newark was the only New York area airport used by Philippine Airlines (PAL), until financial problems in the late 1990s caused it to terminate this service. In March 2015, PAL resumed service to the New York metropolitan area routing to JFK Airport, and will not return to Newark, following the removal of the Philippines from the air safety blacklist of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).[26] In October 2015, Singapore Airlines announced intentions to resume direct nonstop service between Newark and its main hub at Singapore Changi Airport. For a time, the dates were not yet announced, but eventually the Airbus A350-900ULR was chosen and is used on the flights in 2018.[27][28] On May 30, 2018, Singapore Airlines officially announced that nonstop service between Newark and Singapore resumed on October 11, 2018 using the Airbus A350-900ULR. Singapore Airlines Flights 21 and 22 once again claimed their title as the world's longest non-stop scheduled airline flights.[29]

In June 2008 flight caps were put in place to restrict the number of flights to 81 per hour. The flight caps, in effect until 2009, were intended to be a short-term solution to Newark's congestion. The FAA has since embarked on a seven-year-long project to reduce congestion in all three New York area airports and the surrounding flight paths.[30]

Newark is a major hub for United Airlines (Continental Airlines before the 2010–12 merger). United has its Global Gateway at Terminal C, having completed a major expansion project that included a new, third concourse and a new Federal Inspection Services facility. With its Newark hub, United has the most service of any airline in the New York area. On March 6, 2014, United opened a new 132,000-square-foot (12,300 m²), $25 million hangar on a 3-acre (1.2 ha) parcel to accommodate United's wide body aircraft during maintenance.[31] In 2015, the airline announced plans to leave JFK altogether and streamline its transcontinental operations at Newark.[32] On July 7, 2016, the United States Department of Transportation announced that Newark was one of ten cities to first operate flights to José Martí International Airport in Havana, Cuba.[33]

As of 2012, United carried 71% of the airport's passengers. The two next-busiest airlines, Delta Air Lines and JetBlue, each had less than 5%.[34]

In 2016, the Port Authority approved and announced a redevelopment plan to replace Terminal A, set to fully open in 2022.[35] A $2.7 billion investment, Terminal One is expected to increase passenger flow and gate flexibility between airlines, and would also be accompanied by a replacement for the AirTrain Newark monorail system, scheduled for completion in 2024.[35]

The airport covers 2,027 acres (820 ha) and has three runways and one helipad:[37]

• 4L/22R: 11,000 by 150 feet (3,353 m × 46 m), asphalt/concrete, grooved
• 4R/22L: 10,000 by 150 feet (3,048 m × 46 m), asphalt, grooved
• 11/29: 6,726 by 150 feet (2,050 m × 46 m), asphalt, grooved
• Helipad H1: 54 by 54 feet (16 m × 16 m), asphalt

Runway 11/29 is one of the three runways built during World War II. In 1952 Runways 1/19 and 6/24 were closed and a new Runway 4/22 (now 4R/22L) opened at a length of 7,000 ft (2,100 m). After 1970 this runway was extended to 9,800 feet (3,000 m), shortened for a while to 9,300 ft (2,800 m) and finally reached its present length by 2000. Runway 4L/22R opened in 1970 at a length of 8,200 ft (2,500 m) and was extended to its current length by 2000.

All approaches except Runway 29 have Instrument Landing Systems and Runway 4R is certified for Category III approaches. Runway 22L had been upgraded to CAT III approach capability.[30]

Runway 4L/22R is primarily used for takeoffs while 4R/22L is primarily used for landings and 11/29 is used by smaller aircraft or when there are strong crosswinds on the two main runways. Newark's parallel runways (4L and 4R) are 950 feet (290 m) apart, the fourth smallest separation of major airports in the U.S., after San Francisco International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.

Unlike the other two major New York-area airports, JFK and LaGuardia, which are located directly next to large bodies of water (Jamaica Bay and the East River, respectively) and whose runways extend at least partially out into them, Newark Liberty, while located just across Interstate 95 from Newark Bay and not far from the Hudson River, does not directly front upon either body of water, so the airport and its runways are completely land-locked.

All of Newark's runways have displaced thresholds. Runways 4L/22R and 4R/22L have long displaced thresholds and often passenger aircraft will take off just at the threshold of the runway.

Terminal A and Terminal B were both completed in 1973 and have four levels. Terminal A is operated by EWR Terminal One LLC, part of Flughafen München GmbH. Terminal A handles only domestic and Canadian flights served by JetBlue (including flights to the Caribbean), Air Canada, Air Canada Express, Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, American Eagle; and some United Express (i.e., ultra-short haul) flights.[40][41]

In Terminal A, ticket counters are on the top floor, baggage carousels are on the second floor, and parking is on the first floor. There is one United Club in Terminal A's second concourse. Gates and shops are on the third floor. Terminal A is the only terminal that has no immigration facilities; flights arriving from other countries cannot use Terminal A (except countries with U.S. customs preclearance), although some departing international flights use the terminal.

Terminal A and Terminal B were both completed in 1973 and have four levels. Terminal B is the only passenger terminal directly operated by the Port Authority. Terminal B exclusively handles foreign carriers; and also handles flights from the Caribbean through JetBlue, other carriers, such as Delta Airlines, Delta Connection, Sun Country, Elite Airways, Allegiant Air, Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines flights, and some of United's international arrivals.[41]

In Terminal B, ticket counters are on the top floor, except for the second-floor Aer Lingus, Frontier Airlines, Delta Air Lines and Icelandair counters and first-floor British Airways, Level, and Spirit Airlines. Baggage carousels are on the first floor for domestic arrivals and on the second floor for international arrivals. Terminal B also has an international arrivals lounge on the second floor. Gates and shops are on the third floor.

In 2008, Terminal B was renovated to increase capacity for departing passengers and passenger comfort. The renovations included expanding and updating the ticketing areas, building a new departure level for domestic flights and building a new arrivals hall.[42] In January 2012, Port Authority executive director Patrick Foye said $350 million would be spent on Terminal B, addressing complaints by passengers that they cannot move freely.[43] Further developments were made to Terminal B when the Port Authority installed new LED fixtures in 2014. The LED fixtures developed by Sensity Systems, use wireless network capabilities to collect and feed data into the software that can spot long lines, recognize license plates, and identify suspicious activity and alert the appropriate staff.[44]

Terminal C, designed by Grad Associates[45] was completed in 1988. Terminal C is exclusively operated by and for United Airlines and its regional carrier United Express for their global hub at EWR. The terminal has two ticketing levels, one for international check-in and one for domestic check-in. The main terminal building for Terminal C was built alongside Terminals A and B in the 1970s, but lay dormant until People Express Airlines took it over as a replacement for the former North Terminal when the airline's hub there outgrew the old facility. Upon opening, Terminal C had 41 gates, one departures level, one arrivals level, and an underground parking garage.

From 1998 to 2003, Terminal C was rebuilt and expanded in a $1.2 billion program known as the Continental Airlines Global Gateway Project.[46][47] The project, which was designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill,[46] doubled the available space for outbound travelers as the former baggage claim/arrivals hall was remodeled and turned into a second departures level. Probably most significant was the addition of International Concourse C-3, a spacious and airy new facility with capacity for a maximum of 19 narrowbody aircraft (or 12 widebody planes). Completion of this new concourse increased Terminal C's mainline jet gates to 57. Concomitant with Concourse C-3 is a new international arrivals facility. Also included in the project: a 3,400-space parking garage constructed in front of the terminal, a new airside corridor connecting Concourses C-1, C-2 and C-3, a new President's Club — now called United Polaris Lounge — for international Polaris Business and Polaris First flights between C-2 and C-3, and all-new baggage processing facilities, including reconstruction of the former underground parking area into a new baggage claim and arrivals hall.

The gates as well as food and shopping outlets are all located on a mezzanine level between the two check-in floors. Terminal C has multiple gates that can handle wide-body aircraft and narrow body aircraft. Gates C123 and C138 have two jet bridges, often used for Boeing 787 Dreamliner and Boeing 777 aircraft. During peak hours between 4-9 p.m., all gates are full and completely scheduled. During this time, gate availability often becomes scarce leading to delays for arriving and departing aircraft. When departing flights don't have a gate due to their wingspan, United will often put the flight at a smaller gate for the time during the delay, then move the flight to a wide-body gate once it becomes available.

In November 2014, airport amenity manager OTG announced a new $120 million renovation plan for terminal C that included installing 6,000 iPads and 55 new restaurants headed by celebrity chefs, with the first new restaurants opening in summer of 2015 and the whole project completed in 2016.[48]

In 2016, the Port Authority approved and announced a redevelopment plan to build a new Terminal A to replace the existing, which opened in 1973. Built on a site once occupied by United Parcel Service and the United States Postal Service,[35] the new terminal, named Terminal One, is expected to cost around $2.7 billion, and will include a new six-level, 3,000-car parking garage and rental center,[35] 33 gates, and a walkway to connect the AirTrain station, parking garage, and terminal building.[49][50][51][35] The project is expected to open in two phases, with the first in late-2021 and the second in late-2022.[35]

Designed by Grimshaw Architects, the redevelopment is expected to offer more traffic lanes at pick-up and drop-off points, closer check-in counters and security areas to the entrance, and more gate flexibility to allow planes to park at any gate in a "common-use" system.[35] Terminal One will have four levels: the departures level, the mezzanine level for offices, the arrivals level, and the ground floor, where baggage claim will be located.[35] The terminal will be operated as EWR Terminal One LLC by Munich Airport International, a subsidiary of Munich Airport, which will manage the terminal's operations, maintenance, and concessions in the 1 million square feet of retail space.[52] The redevelopment also comes with plans to replace the existing AirTrain monorail system, scheduled to open in 2024.[35]

As a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, aircraft operations in Terminal A have drastically changed. Alaska Airlines trimmed its Newark schedule to just three daily flights and has leased their gates (A30 and A31) to JetBlue to accommodate their increased operations. In addition, United Airlines has vacated concourse A2 in favor of Terminal C for their operations. United has not yet announced when, or if, they will return to Terminal A. JetBlue currently utilizes Gates 15, 16, 16A, 17, 18, 21, 22, 30, and 31 in Terminal A and is now the dominant carrier of the Terminal.

Most international flights from the airport are still suspended with the exception of United's flights to major European, Latin American, and Caribbean destinations.

A monorail system, AirTrain Newark, connects the terminals with Newark Liberty International Airport Station. The station is served by New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor Line and North Jersey Coast Line, with connections to regional rail hubs such as Newark Penn Station, Secaucus Junction and New York Penn Station where transfers are available to any rail line in northern New Jersey or Long Island, New York. Amtrak's Northeast Regional and Keystone Service trains also stop at the Newark Liberty International Airport station. A fee for the AirTrain is included with rail ticket purchases, with the exception of children 11 and younger and customers using monthly passes with the airport as the origin or destination. Passengers can also ride the AirTrain for free between the terminals and the parking lots, parking garages, and rental car facilities.

In September 2012, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that work would commence on a study to explore extending the PATH system to the station.[53] The new station would be located at ground level to the west of the existing NJ Transit station.[54] In 2014, the Board of Commissioners approved a formal proposal to extend the PATH to Newark Airport.[55] On January 11, 2017, the PANYNJ released its 10-year capital plan that included $1.7 billion for the extension. Under the plan, construction is projected to start in 2020, with service in 2026.[56][57]

In January 2019, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy announced a plan for a $2 billion replacement project for AirTrain Newark. Murphy has stated that replacement is necessary because the system is reaching the end of its projected 25-year life and is subject to persistent delays and breakdowns. The Port Authority would be responsible for funding the project.[58] In October 2019, the Port Authority board approved the replacement project with an estimated cost of $2.05 billion. Construction is expected to start in 2021 and be completed in 2024.[59]

NJT buses operate northbound local service to Irvington, Downtown Newark and Newark Penn Station, where connections are available to the PATH and NJ Transit rail lines. The go bus 28 is a bus rapid transit line to Downtown Newark, Newark Broad Street Station and Bloomfield Station. Southbound service travels to Elizabeth, Lakewood, Toms River and intermediate points.

Olympia Trails operates express buses to the Port Authority Bus Terminal, Bryant Park and Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan,[60] and Super-Shuttle, Go Airport Shuttle and Go-link operate shared taxi services.[61]

Private limousine, car service, and taxis also provide service to/from the airport. Taxis serving the airport charge a flat rate based on destination. For trips to/from New York, fares are set by the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission.

The airport is served directly by U.S. Route 1/9, which provides connections to Route 81 and Interstate 78, both of which have interchanges with the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) at exits 13A and 14, respectively. Northbound, Route 1/9 becomes the Pulaski Skyway, which connects to Route 139. Route 139 continues east to the Holland Tunnel, which links Jersey City with Lower Manhattan.

The airport operates short and long term parking lots with shuttle buses and monorail access to the terminals. The shuttle bus fleet is slowly being upgraded to electric buses, with half the buses to be upgraded by the summer of 2019.[62]

A free cellphone lot waiting area is available for drivers picking up passengers at the airport.[63]

Within the Newark Liberty International Airport complex is a Marriott hotel, the only hotel located on airport property.[117] Shuttle vans operate between the hotel and terminals because the Marriott is not serviced by the monorail and there is no official walking route to the terminals, despite the Marriott's immediate proximity to the main parking lot between the terminals.