Terminal A opens at Newark airport

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The $2.7 billion Terminal A recently opened at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The approximately 1 million-square-foot Terminal A replaces one that opened in 1973. It will offer 33 gates and will be able to handle an estimated 13.6 million passengers annually.

The facility offers dining and retail options; sensor technology at check-in and security, smart restrooms, waypoints, and departure gate doors; electric buses to support shuttle operations; children’s play areas; and tandem and soft seating, lounges, benches, and workstations equipped with charging stations in various areas.

A grand opening ceremony was held Tuesday. It was attended by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Chairman Kevin O’Toole, Executive Director Rick Cotton, airport stakeholders, and New Jersey elected officials.

“Newark Liberty serves a vital role in the region’s economy, and we are committed to enhancing the passenger experience by transforming the airport into one of the premier airports in the world,” O’Toole said. “This is New Jersey’s largest design-build project, creating opportunities within the local community that is resulting in thousands of jobs to deliver a world-class facility.”

The terminal is expected to generate more than $4.6 billion in regional economic activity, create more than 2,500 jobs and provide more than $1.9 billion in wages.