Newark Liberty International Airport

Newark Liberty International Airport
Copernicus Sentinel-2, ESA · CC BY-SA 3.0 igo · source
Name	Newark Liberty International Airport
IATA	EWR
ICAO	KEWR
FAA	EWR
Owner	Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
City-served	New York metropolitan area
Location	Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey
Opened	October 1, 1928
Hub	United Airlines
Focus city	JetBlue
Elevation ft	18
Coordinates	40, 41, 33, N...
Website	https://www.newarkairport.com

Newark Liberty International Airport is a major international airport straddling the boundary between Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey. Owned by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and located about 15 miles southwest of Midtown Manhattan, it is one of the three primary airports serving the New York metropolitan area, alongside John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport. As a major hub for United Airlines and a focus city for JetBlue, it handles a significant portion of the region's air traffic, offering extensive domestic and international service.

History

The airport opened on October 1, 1928, on 68 acres of marshland, becoming the first major airport in the New York metropolitan area. It was constructed by the City of Newark and was a pioneering facility for early commercial aviation, serving as the terminus for the first scheduled transcontinental flight by Transcontinental & Western Air. During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces took control of the facility, using it for logistics and as a base for the Air Transport Command. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey assumed control in 1948, overseeing massive postwar expansion, including the construction of new terminals and runways to accommodate the jet age. It was renamed in 2002 to honor victims of the September 11 attacks, including those from United Airlines Flight 93.

Facilities and terminals

The airport features three passenger terminals: Terminal A, Terminal B, and Terminal C. Terminal C is the exclusive operating base for hub carrier United Airlines, featuring the carrier's dedicated United Club lounges and a large Federal Inspection Services facility for international arrivals. The recently rebuilt Terminal A serves a variety of domestic and international carriers, including Delta Air Lines and American Airlines. Terminal B is divided into three concourses and handles numerous international airlines such as Air Canada, British Airways, and Lufthansa. The airfield consists of three runways, with the longest being Runway 11/29 at 11,000 feet, capable of handling the world's largest aircraft like the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747. The airport also houses major cargo facilities for operators like FedEx Express and UPS Airlines.

Airlines and destinations

As a primary hub for United Airlines, the airport offers an extensive network of domestic flights to cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco, alongside a dense schedule of international routes to destinations such as London–Heathrow, Tokyo–Narita, and Tel Aviv. It serves as a focus city for JetBlue, which operates numerous flights to Florida and the Caribbean. Other major carriers with a significant presence include Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines. Internationally, it is served by a global roster of carriers including Air India, El Al, Singapore Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic, connecting the region to Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Ground transportation

The airport is directly connected to Northeast Corridor rail service via the AirTrain Newark monorail, which links all terminals to the Newark Liberty International Airport Station on New Jersey Transit and Amtrak lines, providing direct rail access to New York Penn Station and Philadelphia. Major road access is provided by the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95), the Garden State Parkway, and U.S. Route 1/9. Numerous private and shared-ride van services, taxis, and app-based ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft operate at designated curbside areas. Several major rental car companies maintain facilities accessible via the AirTrain system.

Accidents and incidents

The airport has been the site of several notable aviation accidents. In 1951, a Miami Airlines C-46 crashed in Elizabeth, New Jersey shortly after takeoff. The deadliest accident occurred in 1952 when a National Airlines Douglas DC-6 collided with a United States Air Force Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter over Elizabeth, New Jersey. In 2000, the crash of Air France Flight 4590, a Concorde operated by Air France which had taken on fuel at the airport, occurred shortly after takeoff from Paris–Charles de Gaulle Airport. The airport was also a departure point for United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the September 11 attacks and crashed in Pennsylvania.

Statistics

It is one of the busiest airports in the United States by passenger traffic and aircraft movements. In a recent year, it served over 40 million passengers and handled more than 400,000 aircraft operations. The top domestic destinations typically include Orlando, Los Angeles, and Fort Lauderdale, while top international destinations are London–Heathrow, Toronto, and Tel Aviv. Cargo operations are substantial, with over 700,000 metric tons of freight processed annually, supported by carriers like FedEx Express and Cargolux. The airport is a critical economic engine for New Jersey, supporting tens of thousands of jobs.

Category:Airports in New Jersey Category:Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Category:Transportation in Newark, New Jersey