Port Authority approves $200M Newark upgrade

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey approved the first $75 million phase of a $200 million program to upgrade Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal B on May 20, as travelers reported hours-long delays at the airport during severe weather this week. The agency said the work is meant to modernize and maintain the terminal until a new Terminal B opens in the mid-2030s. NBC New York reported that passengers on multiple United Airlines flights said they were stuck on the tarmac for hours on Wednesday, May 21, with some flights later canceled. The two developments put short-term disruption and longer-term infrastructure work at Newark on the same timeline. ### What exactly did the Port Authority approve this week? The Port Authority board authorized $75 million in near-term improvements at Terminal B, the first phase of a broader three-year, $200 million program, the agency said in a May 20 release. The work is part of the Port Authority’s 2026-2035 capital plan. The May 20 release said the first phase will focus on gate areas, restrooms, elevators and escalators at Terminal B, which the agency described as a 53-year-old facility. The Port Authority said the money is intended to improve the passenger experience while planning continues for a replacement terminal. ### Why is Terminal B getting interim work instead of a full rebuild now? The Port Authority said a new Terminal B is planned as part of the full redevelopment of Newark Liberty, but the existing building will stay in use until the replacement opens in the mid-2030s. That leaves several years in which the current terminal still has to handle passengers. The agency’s December 2025 capital-plan announcement said the broader 2026-2035 program funds a new Terminal B to anchor a transformed Newark Liberty. The May 20 release said the newly approved work is meant to keep the existing terminal functional and updated in the meantime. ### How does the AirTrain entryway fit into this story? A separate Port Authority project broke ground on June 12, 2025, to add a new entry point to the Newark Liberty Airport Train Station served by AirTrain Newark, Amtrak and NJ TRANSIT. The agency said that $160 million project is designed to expand access for residents of Newark’s South Ward and North Elizabeth. The December 2025 capital-plan release said that new entry point to AirTrain Newark’s Airport Train Station is scheduled to open by the end of 2026. The Port Authority said the project will create a pickup and drop-off point and an accessible pedestrian bridge linking nearby communities to rail service and airport access. ### What happened with the flight delays at Newark? NBC New York reported on May 22 that passengers on multiple United Airlines flights said they were stranded aboard planes for hours at Newark on Wednesday, May 21. NJ.com reported that severe thunderstorms left travelers dealing with delays, baggage problems and rebooking issues. The weather-related disruption was separate from the Terminal B capital vote, but both events centered attention on Newark ahead of the Memorial Day travel weekend. United passengers interviewed by NBC New York said some flights sat on the tarmac for hours before being canceled. ### What comes next at Newark? The Port Authority said the $75 million approval starts the first phase of a three-year Terminal B program, while planning continues for the replacement terminal scheduled for the mid-2030s. The agency has also said the new AirTrain Newark access point for nearby residents is expected to open by the end of 2026. The AirTrain Newark replacement itself is expected to open in 2030, according to a Port Authority announcement from January 2026. That leaves Newark with multiple overlapping milestones: immediate Terminal B upgrades, the end-2026 station-access opening, and a longer-term terminal replacement still in planning.