Current photo of Terminal B exterior. Photo courtesy of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey.

Transportation

On May 22, 2026

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Board of Commissioners yesterday authorized $75 million in near-term improvements at Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport, the first phase of a broader three-year, $200 million program included in the agency’s 2026-2035 Capital Plan to modernize 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 passengers. While long-term redevelopment advances under the EWR Vision Plan, the Port Authority is prioritizing near-term upgrades to improve comfort, reliability, accessibility, and the overall passenger experience. Work is set to begin this year.

“I’m pleased the Port Authority is investing in upgrades at Newark Airport to better meet the needs of New Jersey’s travelers,” said Gov. Mikie Sherrill. “These immediate improvements at Terminal B are an important first step toward improving the passenger experience, building our economy, and delivering better results for New Jersey.”

“These investments reflect what matters most: our customers,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “The Board’s authorization of this funding is a commitment that the experience of traveling 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.”

“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 We’re replacing what’s worn, upgrading what’s outdated, and making targeted improvements that will be immediately noticeable to anyone who travels through Terminal B.”

To address aging infrastructure across worn passenger areas and outdated systems, the Port Authority included $200 million in its 2026-2035 Capital Plan approved last year to modernize passenger spaces, replace aging equipment,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 program 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, prioritizes 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.

A new Terminal B will serve as a centerpiece 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. The new terminal will offer expanded gate capacity, intuitive design, state-of-the-art technology, and elevated dining, retail, and public spaces.

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