Summary:
- Newark Terminal B upgrades advance with $75m approved for near term improvements as part of a wider $200m modernisation programme.
- EWR passenger experience improvements target gate areas, restrooms, accessibility, circulation spaces and critical vertical transport systems.
- Port Authority capital investment prepares Terminal B for continued operations until the new world class terminal opens in the mid 2030s.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners has authorised $75 million in near-term improvements at Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport, the first phase of a broader three-year, $200 million programme included in the agency’s 2026-2035 Capital Plan to modernise and maintain the facility until the new Terminal B opens in the mid-2030s.
Opened in 1973, Terminal B was designed to serve approximately 6.8 million annual passengers. In 2025, it served about 11.5 million. While long-term redevelopment advances under the EWR Vision Plan, the Port Authority is prioritising near-term upgrades to improve comfort, reliability, accessibility, and the overall passenger experience. Work is set to begin this year.
“These investments reflect what matters most: our customers,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “The Board’s authorisation of this funding is a commitment that the experience of travelling through Newark Liberty today is just as important as the terminal we’re building for tomorrow. As these interim improvements are implemented, passengers should see and feel the difference: in the seats they wait in, the restrooms they use, and the systems that move them through the terminal.”
To address aging infrastructure across worn passenger areas and outdated systems, the Port Authority included $200 million in its 2026-2035 Capital Plan approved last year to modernise passenger spaces, replace aging equipment, upgrade customer-facing technology, and improve operational reliability across the terminal and its three satellites.
The $200 million three-year programme will refresh gate areas with new seating, flooring, and lighting; replace escalators and elevators; improve ADA accessibility; renovate restrooms; upgrade passenger boarding bridges; improve HVAC systems and controls; and refurbish baggage handling systems. The initial $75 million phase, launching this year, prioritises the terminal’s most pressing needs: gate areas, restrooms, high-traffic circulation spaces, frontage and lighting, and the elevator, escalator, and boarding bridge systems that are most critical to daily operations.
“Newark Liberty is undergoing a major transformation, but that cannot come at the expense of the passenger experience today,” said Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia. “This investment goes directly at the things customers encounter on every trip: the gate areas where they wait, the restrooms they rely on, the escalators and elevators that move them through the building. We’re replacing what’s worn, upgrading what’s outdated, and making targeted improvements that will be immediately noticeable to anyone who travels through Terminal B.”
A new Terminal B will serve as a centrepiece of Newark Liberty International Airport’s long-term transformation, replacing the aging existing facility with a world-class international gateway designed for the future of air travel. Building on the success of the award-winning Terminal A, the new terminal will deliver a modern, seamless passenger experience with expanded gate capacity, intuitive design, state-of-the-art technology, and elevated dining, retail, and public spaces. The redevelopment will strengthen Newark Liberty’s position as a premier global gateway for the New York and New Jersey region while improving operational efficiency and enhancing the reliability and resiliency of airport operations.
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