The new $2 billion plus Terminal A at Newark Liberty Airport will open to travelers next Thursday after it was delayed for more than a month.
“The Port Authority is pleased to announce that the first flights in and out of Newark Liberty’s new, world-class Terminal A will commence on Jan. 12th,” Tom Pietrykoski, an authority spokesperson, said in a statement.
The start of passenger operations at Newark’s new Terminal A had been scheduled for Dec. 8, but was delayed because fire alarm and security systems had yet to pass final tests.
The Dec. 8 date had been announced on Nov. 15 after a public ribbon cutting ceremony by Gov. Phil Murphy and other officials, and tours of the lavish $2.7 billion terminal. The opening date being pushed back denied holiday travelers use of the more modern, spacious high tech building.
“We look forward to welcoming passengers to this magnificent, state-of-the-art facility, where they will enjoy best-in-class functionality, inspiring public art, delicious local concessions, and a transformative experience from curb to gate,” Pietrykoski said.
The delay is the fourth time the opening of Newark Airport’s first new terminal in 35 years has been pushed back. In September, authority officials blamed supply chain problems and other elements pushing that opening back to the end of 2022
The first phase of the 1-million square-foot replacement for the existing Terminal A was originally scheduled to open in late 2021, a date that was pushed back during the COVID-19 pandemic to spring 2022 and then to the summer.
The 33-gate terminal always has been scheduled to open in two phases, the first being the main terminal and its 21 gates, and the second phase which would open 12 more gates roughly 12 months after the opening of the main building and demolition of the old Terminal A.
The second phase of Terminal A is still expected to be complete later this year, said Cheryl Ann Abienz, an authority spokeswoman. Once the new Terminal A is open for operations on Jan. 12, the existing terminal will be closed to the public and operations will commence in the new terminal, she said.
The last pieces of structural steel for the new terminal were hoisted in to place in October 2019 during a topping off ceremony attended by Murphy. By late July 2020, construction crews were racing to enclose the building so work on interior electrical, heating lighting and other work could continue during the winter.
The new terminal replaces a 50-year old terminal that predated present day airport security operations, resulting in a cramped front of the building area that was converted to Transportation Security Administration passenger screening checkpoints.
The new Terminal A will be home to four major airlines, Air Canada, American, Delta, JetBlue and United.
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Larry Higgs may be reached at [email protected].
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