Newark’s gorgeous new Terminal A is now open, but it’s had serious problems on its first day

Hour-long delays and two serious security breaches are not what passengers expect from the brand new Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Thursday, January 12.

After all, this stunning $2.7 billion facility was first announced in November and opening delayed more than a month for additional testing and adjustment.

However, Avery Hoffman, owner of New Jersey-based Lion18 Renovations, left the new terminal on the day of its opening in a dramatic fashion.

“It was horrible,” Hoffman said of his morning at the new station. His JetBlue flight, departing at 7:15 a.m. bound for Fort Lauderdale, was one of the first to depart from the new facility, and his experience was fraught with problems.

Bustling opening day

A power outage at the TSA security checkpoint halted all screening for nearly 20 minutes. After the machines were reconnected, two security breaches were identified, leading to a TSA investigation, which further complicated the screening process.

When Emergency lane clearing multi open, Pre-check TSA didn’t, sending a lot of frustrated frequent passengers into hours-long lines to clear standard security.

Hoffman finally made it through security after more than an hour, only to reach Gate A3 during a flight that was delayed because ground staff couldn’t figure out how to operate the new jet bridge system.

Suffice it to say, Hoffman and his family, and many other frustrated travelers can’t wait to get on their plane on their way out of New Jersey on Thursday – and it’s not just because it’s an overcast winter morning. and wet.

By early afternoon, security lines began to thin out and TSA Pre-Check lanes began opening around 1pm local time.

That said, the situation throughout the day got so bad that United sent out a warning to all visitors leaving Newark, saying “we expect longer-than-usual lines for security checks at Terminal A is at Newark Liberty International Airport and we encourage you to arrive earlier to avoid any disruption to your travel.”

Despite the hiccups on opening day, New Terminal A marks a major upgrade for the airportsomething that some travelers have previously avoided at all costs.

A grand opening ceremony

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the local government agency that oversees and manages the region’s largest airports, invited several media outlets to attend Thursday’s opening ceremony.

“This is the first day at New Terminal A and has been going on for a long time. We are delighted to welcome our customers to the new facility,” said Huntley Lawrence, chief executive officer of the Port Authority.

“There have been some active tests over the last few days and sometimes you don’t spot all the bugs. There are a few challenges this morning that we are trying to overcome,” he added.

Some of the issues Lawrence identified were resolved prior to opening, such as requiring Uber and Lyft to update maps and find directions to guide drivers and passengers to the new facility.

Other problems, such as security breaches and power outages, were not expected and caused passengers to wait more than an hour for security checks more than eight hours after the facility opened.

After the speech, the media were brought to the airport area to officially inaugurate the facility with a traditional water cannon salute to an oncoming, registered United Boeing 737-700 jet. N38727, landed at 10:10 a.m. local time from West Palm Beach.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINT

For those disembarking passengers, entering the new Terminal A for the first time seemed like a big surprise – many of them lined up along the windows to take pictures of the plane and the gate area.

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ZACH GRIFF/THE POINT

In fact The new facility is great physically that it might be enough to change Newark’s reputation.

Inside Newark’s new Terminal A

The new facility is perhaps the biggest passenger upgrade for Newark, and it’s a huge improvement over the outdated Terminal A, which officially closed with Thursday’s opening.

Improvements start from the moment you get off — a new four-lane road leads directly into the vast new facility. The additional lanes will help ease the traffic congestion that once plagued the old station.

Once inside, it only takes a few seconds to realize how upgraded the new registration lobby is. From soaring ceilings to loads of natural light to eye-catching artwork, the new Terminal A is simply stunning.

There are various check-in experiences, including kiosks, counters, and even new dedicated premium areas.

Both JetBlue and United operate separate check-in lounges for premium passengers, including those with mosaic and Top Elite Statusrespectively, as well as those flying in Mint Business Class and United’s premium cabincorresponding.

While security was the big bottleneck on Thursday, it is poised to be significantly more efficient in the coming days.

The new terminal has around 30 Transportation Security Administration checkpoints, all accessible from a centralized check-in area. Once you clear the security (or after you land) you have access to any portal without having to double check.

This is a huge improvement over the old Terminal A, which had individual security checkpoints at each gate. This makes connections much more difficult and causes backups in the busiest departure banks.

Just be aware that security lanes with new CT or computed tomography machines always seem to take longer than older ones.

After security check, you will be on the upper floor of the central square area, with sweeping views of the departure hall.

At first, 21 of the station’s 33 gates were operational. The second phase of construction, expected to be completed this summer, includes the opening of the remaining 12 gates, along with some additional shops and food outlets.

Currently, local franchisees based in New Jersey, such as Jersey Mike’s, Office Tavern and Grill and New Jersey Monthly, are located throughout the terminal and have significantly more seats for passengers throughout the entire terminal. space set.

While the facilities are a day and night improvement over the current Terminal A, perhaps the biggest upgrade is the amount of natural light that makes the space so much more inviting.

That, combined with spacious bathrooms, plenty of seating options, locally inspired artwork, and trees and gardens spread throughout the station, made it a hit with departing travelers. seems to be enjoying the new facility.

What airlines operate from Terminal A?

From the beginning, Air Canada, American Airlines, JetBlue and United Airlines (select flights only) are using the new Terminal A. Delta Air Lines will move to the new facility later this year as it expands to 12 ports.

Among the airlines mentioned above, United is the airline only called Newark the center. While the majority of its flights will continue to operate from Terminal C is now obsoleteselect the flight to depart from and arrive at Terminal A.

United explained that it will strategically operate flights from Terminal A with the least number of connecting passengers. Although there is a post-security shuttle between Terminals A, B and C, landing at the new facility and then connecting to United’s terminal C is not particularly convenient.

Currently, there is no lounge in Terminal A, although that will change in the coming months. Central Plaza after ensuring security will be home to three airline lounges located on the mezzanine above the concession areas.

The south side of the lounge area will be home to a American Admiral’s Club and Delta Sky Clubwhile the north side of this space will be dedicated to a new unity club that will also welcome other Air Canada and Star Alliance eligible passengers.

The station will also be home to a Featured American Express Centurion Lounge Featuring views of Newark Harbor, New York Harbor, Newark Harbor and the Manhattan skyline, a piano lounge, jazz themed bar and speakeasy themed cocktail lounge. Amex is also planning wellness rooms, workstations and more buffet meals.

The Amex Lounge will be located in the North Concourse, which will open in the summer as part of a second construction phase.

bottom line

Newark’s new Terminal A has been in operation since 2018 and it ushers in a new era for an airport once considered one of the worst in the country. At $2.7 billion, the new facility is the Port Authority’s largest investment in New Jersey in the agency’s 101-year history.

Although the establishment encountered some difficulties on its opening day, it is well on its way to improving Newark’s reputation. Soaring ceilings, modern amenities, centralized security and spacious gate areas are just some of the innovations you’ll find in this world-class terminal.

In fact, the next time you fly from Terminal A, you might not believe you’ve actually arrived in Newark.

The good news is that the airport will see more improvements, including the opening of a second phase of construction in Terminal A, as well as a larger redevelopment project that will modernize the entire airport.

Until then, just cross your fingers that the security bottlenecks have been cleared and you’ll be ready to have a great experience traveling through Newark.

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