Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is preparing to expand its recently opened Terminal A after passenger numbers significantly exceeded the facility’s original projections. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has approved $110 million for two expansion projects that will eventually add eight gates to the terminal, with the first construction phase expected to begin next year.
Two More Gates Are Coming First
The first phase will focus on the southern end of Terminal A. The Port Authority has allocated $100 million for the project, which will add approximately 25,000 square feet, two common-use gates, additional seating, restrooms, and grab-and-go concessions. Construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the expansion targeted for completion in 2029.
A separate $10 million allocation will fund planning for a larger northern expansion. That project is expected to add six additional common-use gate, with first portions planned to open in 2030 and the full expansion expected to be completed by 2032. The Port Authority has not yet finalized the construction cost for the northern project.
Terminal A is Already Handling More Passengers Than Expected
Terminal A opened in 2023 following a $2.7 billion redevelopment. The approximately 1-million-square-foot terminal opened with 33 gates and was designed to accommodate around 13 million passengers annually. However, passenger demand quickly surpassed those expectations. Approximately 18 million passengers used Terminal A in 2024, according to the Port Authority, nearly 40% above the original projection.
Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said the terminal had been designed with room for future expansion.
“We left room for growth back then,” O’Toole said, adding that passengers numbers had “shattered” forecasts and that the agency was now moving ahead with that planned expansion.
The Expansion is Part of a Larger Newark Airport Overhaul
The additional gates are part of a broader redevelopment plan for Newark Liberty. The Port Authority’s EWR Vision Plan includes plans for Terminal B, improvements to Terminal C, changes to the airport’s roadway and taxiway networks and a replacement for the existing AirTrain system.
The new AirTrain is expected to improve connections between the airport’s terminals, parking facilities, rental car center and the Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) rail station. The replacement system is currently scheduled to begin passenger service in 2030.
For travelers using Terminal A, the immediate changes will not arrive overnight. Construction on the first two-gates expansion is not scheduled to begin until 2027, with completion expected two years later.
Have you traveled through Terminal A since it opened? What do you think of Newark Liberty’s expansion plans? Share your experience and join the conversation below.
