The opening of the much-anticipated Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport, which had been scheduled to take place this week, will instead take place in early January, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said today.
“While we had targeted the start of passenger operations at Newark’s new Terminal A for December 8th, the fire alarm and security systems have yet to pass their final tests,” Director of Corporate Communications Thomas Pietrykoski said in a statement.
Pietrykoski also noted that while the terminal will technically be ready shortly, they will nonetheless delay the opening until next year as to avoid potential issues due to the holiday traveling period.
“In response to concerns expressed by airlines about opening a brand-new facility during the peak holiday travel period, the Port Authority will open the new Terminal A to the public in early January,” he explained.
The Port Authority operates the region’s three major airports.
Port Authority officials told have earlier told TLS that Terminal A is expected to open on or around December 8th.
The $2.7 billion terminal features approximately 1 million square feet of space and offers 33 gates to handle larger aircraft, as well as a modernized common-use check-in area, security and baggage claim areas expected to efficiently handle an estimated 13.6 million passengers a year.