Newark Liberty International Airport is moving forward with additional Terminal A capacity after the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners authorized $110 million for two expansion projects.
The funding covers a $100 million southern expansion that will add two gates and 25,000 square feet of passenger space, along with $10 million for planning a northern expansion that could add six additional gates. The southern project is scheduled to begin construction in 2027 and open in 2029, while the northern expansion is planned for phased openings beginning in 2030.
The $100 million southern expansion will extend Terminal A with two new common-use gates, adjacent passenger seating, men's, women's and all-gender restrooms, and grab-and-go concession space.
Construction is expected to start in 2027, with completion targeted for 2029. The project is intended to increase passenger processing and gate capacity within the recently completed terminal.
Terminal A opened in 2023 as a 1-million-square-foot facility with 33 gates. The terminal was designed with space for future expansion, allowing additional capacity to be incorporated as passenger demand increased.
The Port Authority said the terminal handled approximately 18 million passengers in 2024, nearly 40% above its original annual projection.
The additional $10 million authorization will support early planning for a northern expansion with six more common-use gates. Planning activities will include developing cost estimates, construction phasing and other project requirements ahead of a potential project authorization in 2027.
The northern expansion is planned to open in phases between 2030 and 2032.
The two projects are part of the Port Authority's broader EWR Vision Plan for Newark Liberty. The long-term program includes development of a new international terminal to replace the existing Terminal B, improvements to Terminal C, a replacement AirTrain system, and changes to roadway and taxiway infrastructure.
The Port Authority is also advancing a new 2.5-mile automated AirTrain system intended to improve connections between terminals, parking areas, rental facilities and the Newark Liberty International Airport rail station.
The southern Terminal A expansion is projected to generate 750 job-years, $76.6 million in wages and $173 million in economic activity when direct, indirect and induced effects are included.
Initial planning for the northern expansion is projected to generate 70 job-years, $7.7 million in wages and $17.3 million in economic activity.
The expansion builds on the $2.7 billion Terminal A redevelopment completed in 2023. The Port Authority's broader Newark Liberty redevelopment program is intended to accommodate passenger growth while upgrading terminal, landside and airside infrastructure.
The Terminal A expansion adds near-term capacity to an airport where passenger demand has exceeded original forecasts. The southern project will move into construction in 2027, while planning for the northern expansion establishes the next phase of gate and passenger-space development. Together, the projects form part of a larger airport modernization program spanning terminals, transportation connections and airfield infrastructure.
Source: Port Authority NY NJ.
