Following a $2.7 billion overhaul, Newark Airport’s Terminal A was recognized by global airport evaluation firm Skytrax as the world’s best new airport terminal, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced in a statement on Monday (April 23).
The international acclaim follows a five-star rating by Skytrax last month, which audited Terminal A’s facilities, operations and customer service.
The announcement was made during the Passenger Terminal Expo & Conference in Frankfurt, Germany and marked the PANYNJ’s second consecutive honor, following LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B being named the best terminal in 2023. Both LaGuardia and Newark airports are the only two in North America to receive the highest Skytrax rating.
The event was attended by key Port Authority officials, including Chairman Kevin O’Toole, Chief Operating Officer James Heitmann, Director of Aviation Redevelopment Jacquelene McCarthy, and Aviation Operational Standards and Compliance General Manager Frank Radics.
Skytrax Awards
The Skytrax award holds significant global prestige as a benchmark for airport facility excellence. It is the result of comprehensive passenger surveys conducted between August 2023 and March 2024, covering traveler experiences from check-in to departure across various airport services and facilities.
Newark Liberty now joins LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B, which received the same accolade in 2023, making it the second Port Authority airport in two years to achieve Skytrax’s highest honor for airport terminals.
“This is a tremendously well-deserved honor for the flagship of the Port Authority’s ongoing renaissance at Newark Liberty International Airport,” said N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy. “It’s no surprise that the industry’s leader has bestowed one of its highest honors on this facility. From the distinctly Jersey aesthetic to the first-rate amenities and home-grown attractions, Terminal A is a point of pride for the Garden State that the whole world now gets to enjoy.”
Renovations at Terminal A
The renovations at Terminal A mark the largest single investment in New Jersey by the Port Authority and is the New Jersey’s largest design-build project, according to a statement by the PANYNJ.
The Terminal A overhaul was part of a vast $30 billion project to revamp major airports in the New York and New Jersey metropolitan area. The next phase is the redesign of Newark Airport Terminal B.
“From Newark to LaGuardia, and from worst to best, our $30 billion redevelopment of the New York-New Jersey area’s major airports has truly transformed air travel for the millions of people who use our airports,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Our work at the airports reflects best-in-class standards, and we are extremely gratified by the international aviation industry’s recognition that this region is home to two of the world’s best new airport terminals.”
Terminal A opened in phases throughout 2023, replacing the former Terminal A and vastly improving passenger capacity and amenities. The 1 million-square-foot terminal boasts state-of-the-art facilities, local artwork, a children’s play space, digital technology, and numerous dining and retail options. Unique features like a sensory room for neurodivergent travelers and a children’s lending library add to its appeal.
“We believe strongly that our region deserves nothing but the best, and Newark Liberty has delivered the best new facility in the world for the state of New Jersey,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole.
Passenger Terminal Expo & Conference
The annual ceremony at the Passenger Terminal Expo & Conference is renowned in the aviation industry and is the equivalent of the Academy Awards in filmmaking, the PANYNJ said.
The global conference is attended by over 10,000 airports and airlines professional from a minimum of 120 countries who gather to debate current issues, share innovations, solutions, knowledge, and insight.
It is the world’s largest annual airport design exhibition, and showcases the latest products, services, technologies, innovations and solutions to enhance efficiency, safety and the passenger experience for airports worldwide.
Other Accolades for Terminal A
In addition to the facility’s best new terminal award and five-star rating, Terminal A was awarded a 2023 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Prix Versailles Special Prize for the terminal’s exterior, a design that reflects the building’s distinctive architecture emphasizing spaciousness, functionality and abundant natural light.
Terminal A also received LEED gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, the most widely used green-building rating system in the world and an international symbol of environmental responsibility. In 2023, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in New Jersey named Terminal A as its 2023 Project of the Year.
What’s Next for Terminal A
The next phase of the Port Authority’s transformation of Newark Liberty International Airport will be developed through the work of a world-class airport master planner selected by the agency.
The EWR Vision Plan — which will serve as a framework for future development through 2065 – will incorporate plans for long-term economic growth, sustainability projects, and multimodal access to the airport for both work and travel. More information on Newark Liberty’s redevelopment and the new AirTrain Newark is available at EWRredevelopment.com.
