Newark Liberty International Airport

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Newark Liberty International Airport


FAA airport diagram for EWR
IATA: EWR – ICAO: KEWR – FAA: EWR
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner City of Newark
Operator Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
Serves New York metro area
Location Newark, New Jersey
Elevation AMSL 18 ft / 5 m
Coordinates 40°41′33″N 074°10′07″W / 40.6925, -74.16861
Website www.panynj.gov/...
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
4L/22R 11,000 3,353 Asphalt/Concrete
4R/22L 10,000 3,048 Asphalt
11/29 6,800 2,073 Asphalt
Helipads
Number Length Surface
ft m
H1 40 12 Concrete
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[1]
For the massive interchange outside of Newark Liberty International Airport, see Newark Airport Interchange.

Newark Liberty International Airport (IATA: EWR, ICAO: KEWR, FAA LID: EWR), first named Newark Airport and later Newark International Airport, is an international airport within the city limits of both Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, United States. It is about 15 miles (24 km) southwest of Midtown Manhattan (New York City).

The airport is operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which also manages the two other major airports in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA), in addition to three smaller airports, Stewart International Airport, Teterboro Airport and the Downtown Manhattan Heliport. Newark is the tenth busiest airport in the United States and the nation's fifth busiest international air gateway; JFK ranks first.[2]

Newark Liberty is the second-largest hub for Continental Airlines, which is the airport's largest tenant (operating all of Terminal C and part of Terminal A). Primarily due to this large hub operation, Continental Airlines is by far the leading carrier in the New York market.[3] FedEx Express operates one of its major cargo hubs at Newark.

In 2007, Newark Airport handled slightly more than 36.3 million passengers[4], compared to JFK's 47.8 million[4] and LaGuardia's 25.3 million. In total over 111 million passengers used New York airports in 2007, making New York the busiest airport system in the United States in terms of passenger numbers and second in the world behind London.

Contents

[edit] History

Major airports in the New York Metropolitan Area: John F. Kennedy (1), LaGuardia (2) and Newark Liberty (3).
Major airports in the New York Metropolitan Area: John F. Kennedy (1), LaGuardia (2) and Newark Liberty (3).

Newark Airport was the first major airport in the New York area: it opened on October 1, 1928, occupying an area of New Jersey marshland filled with dredged soil.

In 1935, Amelia Earhart dedicated the Newark Airport Administration Building, which was North America's first commercial airline terminal (Croydon Aerodrome, south of London, was the world's first, predating Newark by seven years). Newark was the busiest airport in the world until LaGuardia Airport opened in 1939, dividing New York's air traffic and allowing Chicago Midway International Airport to take the lead. Newark was temporarily closed to passenger traffic and taken over by the United States Army for logistics operations during World War II.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey took over the airport in 1948 and made major investments in airport infrastructure, opening new runways and hangars and revamping the airport's terminal layout. Airline traffic resumed that year. The art deco Administration Building served as the main terminal until the opening of the North Terminal in 1953, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

In the 1950s, there were suggestions to move the airport after two crashes within a month occurred at nearby Elizabeth, New Jersey.[5] A new international airport to serve the New York City area would have been built in what is now the Great Swamp National Wildlife Refuge, however local protests defeated the plan.[6]

In the 1970s, the airport underwent a significant enlargement, including the construction of the current Terminals A, B, and C, and was renamed Newark International Airport. Terminals A and B opened in 1973, although some charter and international flights requiring customs clearance remained at the North Terminal. The main building of Terminal C was completed at the same time, but only metal framing work was done on the terminal's satellites, and it lay dormant until the mid-1980s, when for a brief time the west third of the terminal was equipped for international arrivals and used for certain People Express transcontinental flights. Terminal C was fully completed and opened to the public in June 1988.

Underutilized throughout the 1970s, Newark expanded dramatically in the 1980s. People Express struck a deal with the Port Authority to use the North Terminal as both its air terminal and corporate office in 1981 and began operations at Newark that year. It quickly rose to become one of the largest American airlines, steadily increasing Newark's traffic in the through most of the 1980s. Virgin Atlantic Airways began flights from Newark to London in 1984, challenging JFK's status as New York's international gateway (however, Virgin Atlantic now has more flights going out of JFK than out of Newark). When People Express was merged into Continental in 1987, operations at the North Terminal were greatly reduced, and the building was demolished to make way for cargo facilities in the early 1990s. Newark has remained a hub for Continental.

Today, Continental has its Global Gateway at Terminal C, having completed a major expansion project that included the construction of a new, third concourse and a new Federal Inspection Services facility. With its Newark hub, Continental is the largest provider of air service to the New York metropolitan area.

A flag flies over Gate A17.
A flag flies over Gate A17.

United Airlines Flight 93 pushed back from gate A17 at 8:01 am, on its way from Newark to San Francisco International Airport, on September 11, 2001. Two hours later it would crash into a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, when passengers attempted to take over the plane from a team of hijackers. Based on the direction that the plane was flying at the time and information gathered afterwards, most observers believe that the hijackers intended to crash the plane into a target in Washington, D.C., such as the Capitol or White House. In memory of this event, the airport's name was changed from Newark International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport. This name was chosen over the initial proposal, Liberty International Airport at Newark, and refers to the landmark Statue of Liberty, just 7 miles (11 km) east of the airport. Despite the name change few locals call it by its new name. The name most often used by locals is "Newark Airport" or simply "Newark".

Further information: September 11, 2001 attacks

In 2001, Newark Liberty International Airport became the terminus of the world's longest non-stop scheduled airline route, Continental's service to Hong Kong. In 2004, Singapore Airlines broke Continental's record by starting non-stop 18-hour flights to Singapore from Newark. In 2005, Continental commenced flight from Newark to Beijing on June 15, 2005 and New Delhi on November 1, 2005: when these services began, Continental became for a time the only airline to serve India nonstop from the United States, and the third U.S. carrier, after United and Northwest to serve mainland China nonstop and the first to offer nonstop flights to Beijing from New York operated by a U.S. carrier. On July 16, 2007, Continental Airlines announced that it would seek government approval for nonstop flights between Newark and Shanghai in 2009. On September 11, 2007, both China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines announced plans to begin nonstop flights between Newark and Beijing in 2008 and 2009, respectively, using new Boeing 787-8 aircraft. [7] In September 2007, the United States Department of Transportation tentatively awarded Continental the right to fly to Shanghai from Newark beginning March 25, 2009 using Boeing 787 aircraft.

Starting on June 1, 2008, Newark Airport will be restricted to having 81 flights per hour in order to combat flight delays. The flight caps, which are only in effect until 2009, are intended to be a short-term solution to the congestion problem.[8]

[edit] Facilities

Newark Liberty International Airport covers 2,027 acres (820 ha) and has three runways and one helipad:

  • Runway 4L/22R: 11,000 x 150 ft. (3,353 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt/Concrete
  • Runway 4R/22L: 10,000 x 150 ft. (3,048 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
  • Runway 11/29: 6,800 x 150 ft. (2,073 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt
  • Helipad H1: 40 x 40 ft. (12 x 12 m), Surface: Concrete

Runway 11/29 is part of the original paved runway system developed in the 1940s. In 1952, original Runways 1/19 and 6/24 were closed in response to concerns about obstructions and noise, and a modern Runway 4/22 (now 4R/22L) was commissioned at a length of 7,000 ft. This runway was later extended to 9,800 feet, shortened for a while to 9,300 ft. and finally brought to its present length by 2000. Runway 4L/22R was built in the early 1970s at a length of 8,200 ft. and was extended to its current dimensions by 2000.

All approaches except Runway 29 are equipped with Instrument Landing Systems, and Runway 4R is certified for Category II ILS approaches.

Most departing traffic use Runway 4L/22R, while most arriving traffic use 04R/22L, and 11/29 is used more often by smaller aircraft or when there are strong crosswinds on the two main runways. Newark's two parallel runways (4L and 4R) have a lateral separation of only 900 feet (270 m), which is the fourth smallest of major airports in the U.S., after SFO, LAX and SEA.[9]

[edit] Terminals and destinations

Foreground: Terminal C; background : the skylines of Manhattan and Jersey City.
Foreground: Terminal C; background : the skylines of Manhattan and Jersey City.

Newark Liberty International Airport has three passenger terminals. Terminal A and Terminal B were completed in 1973 and have four levels. Ticket counters are on the top floor, except for the second-floor Air India and British Airways. Gates and shops are on the third floor. An international arrivals lounge (Terminal B) and baggage carousels (both A and B) are on the second floor. Finally, short-term parking and ramp operations (restricted areas) are on the ground floor. Terminal C, completed in 1988, has two ticketing levels, one for international check-in and one for domestic check-in. The gates, as well as food and shopping outlets are located on a mezzanine level between the two check-in floors. From 1998-2003, Terminal C was renovated. The baggage claim area was renovated, and turned into a second departure level, splitting departures into International Floor/Domestic Floor, a third concourse was added, an international arrivals facility was added, and a 3,400-space parking garage, and new baggage processing facilities were added, including turning the former underground parking area into a new baggage claim. Parking had been prohibited underneath the terminal as a security measure after the first attack on the World Trade Center in 1993.

As of 2008, Terminal B is being renovated to increase capacity for departing passengers and passenger comfort. The renovations include expanding and updating the ticketing areas, building a new departure level for domestic flights, and building a new arrivals hall.[10] Plans are also in place to expand Terminal A by adding a new parking garage, and radically expanding the size of the first concourse to add gates, ticketing, baggage, and security areas.[11]

Each terminal is subdivided into three numbered concourses: Terminal A, for instance, is divided into concourses A1, A2, and A3. Gate numbering is continuous through all the terminals.

[edit] Terminal A

Terminal A at night in 2005.
Terminal A at night in 2005.

Terminal A is the only terminal at Newark not fitted with immigration facilities: flights arriving from other countries (except countries with US customs preclearance) cannot use Terminal A, although some departing international flights use the terminal.

[edit] Terminal B

[edit] Terminal C

New York City skyline from Continental Terminal C
New York City skyline from Continental Terminal C
  • Continental Airlines (Acapulco [seasonal], Aguadilla, Albuquerque, Amsterdam, Antigua, Aruba, Athens, Atlanta, Austin, Barcelona, Beijing, Belfast-International, Belize City, Berlin-Tegel, Bermuda, Birmingham (UK), Bogotá, Bonaire, Boston, Bristol (UK), Brussels, Buffalo, Calgary [seasonal], Cancún, Charleston (SC), Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, Cleveland, Cologne/Bonn, Columbus (OH), Copenhagen, Cozumel, Curacao/Willemstad, Dallas/Fort Worth, Daytona Beach [seasonal], Delhi, Denver, Detroit, Dublin, Eagle/Vail [Seasonal], Edinburgh, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Frankfurt, Geneva, Glasgow-International, Grand Cayman, Guatemala City, Halifax, Hamburg, Hayden/Steamboat Springs [seasonal], Hong Kong, Honolulu, Houston-Intercontinental, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Kansas City, Las Vegas, Liberia, Lima, Lisbon, London-Gatwick, London-Heathrow, Los Angeles, Los Cabos, Madrid, Manchester (UK), Mexico City, Miami, Milan-Malpensa, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Montego Bay, Montreal, Montrose/Telluride, Mumbai, Myrtle Beach, Nassau, New Orleans, Orange County, Orlando, Oslo, Panama City, Paris-Charles de Gaulle, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Port of Spain, Portland (OR), Providence, Puerto Plata, Puerto Vallarta, Punta Cana, Raleigh/Durham, Roatán [seasonal], Rome-Fiumicino, Salt Lake City, San Antonio, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose (CA), San José (CR), San Jose del Cabo, San Juan, San Pedro Sula, San Salvador, Santiago (DR), Santo Domingo, São Paulo-Guarulhos, Sarasota, Seattle/Tacoma, Shanghai-Pudong [begins March 25], Shannon, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, Stockholm-Arlanda, Tampa, Tel Aviv, Tokyo-Narita, Toronto-Pearson, Tucson, Vancouver, Washington-Dulles, Washington-Reagan, West Palm Beach, Zürich)
    • Continental Connection operated by Colgan Air (Albany, Baltimore/Washington, Greensboro, Hartford/Springfield, Norfolk, Pittsburgh, Portland (ME) [begins June 12], Providence, Raleigh/Durham, Rochester (NY), Syracuse, Toronto-Pearson)
    • Continental Express operated by ExpressJet Airlines (Albany, Asheville, Baltimore/Washington, Bangor, Birmingham (AL), Buffalo, Burlington (VT), Charleston (SC), Charlotte, Chicago-O'Hare, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, Columbia (SC), Columbus (OH), Dayton, Daytona Beach [ends September 2], Detroit, Fayetteville (AR), Grand Rapids, Greensboro, Greenville (SC), Halifax, Hartford/Springfield, Indianapolis, Jackson (MS), Jacksonville (FL), Kansas City, Knoxville, Lexington, Little Rock, Louisville, Madison, Manchester (NH), Memphis, Milwaukee, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Moncton, Montréal, Mont-Tremblant [seasonal], Nantucket [seasonal], Nashville, Nassau, Norfolk, Oklahoma City, Omaha, Ottawa, Pittsburgh, Portland (ME) [ends July 1], Providence, Québec City, Raleigh/Durham, Richmond, Rochester (NY), Sarasota, Savannah, St. John's, St. Louis, Syracuse (NY), Toronto-Pearson, Tulsa)†
  • US Helicopter Gate C71 (Bridgeport, Downtown Manhattan Heliport, East 34th St. Heliport, New York-JFK)
Interior of Terminal C
Interior of Terminal C

† Continental Express flights will gradually move to Terminal A by the end of June 2008.[12]

[edit] Cargo

[edit] Ground transportation

[edit] AirTrain

AirTrain Newark
AirTrain Newark
Many Continental Express Embraer Regional Jets (ERJs) at Terminal C
Many Continental Express Embraer Regional Jets (ERJs) at Terminal C
Main article: AirTrain Newark

Newark is an intermodal airport. A monorail system, AirTrain Newark, connects the terminals with the Newark Liberty International Airport Rail Link Station for connection to Amtrak and New Jersey Transit service. Passengers can use this connection to travel from EWR to any station along New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor or North Jersey Coast Line, including regional transit hubs such as New York City's Penn Station.

Continental Airlines uses this rail connection to book passengers through Newark to 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Wilmington Station in Wilmington, Delaware; Penn Station in New York City; Stamford Station in Stamford, Connecticut; and Union Station in New Haven, Connecticut.

The monorail is free for use between all stations, but passengers wishing to exit or enter the Rail Link station must pay a $5.50 fee. NJ Transit tickets to or from the Rail Link station (indicated by ** EWR ** on the tickets) that are sold at ticket windows and vending machines automatically include the $5.50 fee. Tickets purchased on a train will not allow passengers to enter the Rail Link station; they will have to pay the fee at the station.

[edit] Other connections

Numerous bus services run between Newark Liberty and nearby population centers, including New Jersey Transit, Airporter, and Olympia Trails. Express buses to Manhattan transit hubs (Grand Central Terminal, Port Authority Bus Terminal, etc.) cost $15 (round trip $25). There is also bus service to JFK Airport, which costs $24.

The airport is also served by a number of New Jersey Transit buses. Routes 40 and 62 provide local service from downtown Newark, including Newark Penn Station, at a fare of $1.35, the former from the North Area, and the latter from the passenger terminals. Route 37 provides service to the airport from Newark and Irvington, and Route 67 provides local service from Lakewood and Toms River.

The New Jersey Turnpike has 2 exits that allow motorists to gain access to Newark Liberty International Airport. Those exits are 13A and 14.

Taxis also operate from the airport at flat rates based on destination. From the City of New York, fares are set by New York City's Taxi and Limousine Commission. From New York City, the taxi fare shall be the metered rate plus a surcharge of $15.00 plus the cost of round trip tolls. This is approximately $40 to $75 depending on the exact origin. Newark Liberty, along with destinations in Nassau and Weschester Counties, is one of the exceptions to the rule that a New York City taxi driver may refuse to take a passenger to any destination outside the five boroughs.

From Newark Airport to Manhattan, the taxi fare is a set fee plus round trip tolls. From Newark Airport to

  • Battery Park to West 34th Street: $50.00
  • West 35th Street to West 58th Street: $55.00
  • West 59th Street to West 109th Street: $60.00
  • West 110th Street to West 185th Street: $65.00
  • North of 185th Street: $70.00
  • New York/LaGuardia Airport: $87.00
  • New York/Kennedy Airport: $85.00

There is an additional charge of $5.00 for all destinations on the east side of Manhattan between Battery Park and 185th Street.

Continental Airlines also books passengers via bus to Lehigh Valley International Airport in Allentown, Pennsylvania, a 90-minute trip.

[edit] Accommodations

Within Newark Liberty International Airport's complex is a Marriott hotel, the only hotel located on the airport's property.[13] Shuttle vans stop at all terminals to transport guests to the hotel because the Marriott is not serviced by the monorail and is not physically connected to any terminal. There are also a variety of hotels located adjacent to Newark Airport.

[edit] Airport information

Airport information can be obtained in several ways both before traveling to the airport and while there. In addition to the Web site listed below, travelers may call the airport at +1-973-961-6000 or from within the United States and Canada, toll-free at 888-EWR-INFO (397-4636).

In the immediate vicinity of the airport, parking and other information can be obtained by tuning to a highway advisory radio station at 530 AM.

Newark Airport, along with LaGuardia and Kennedy airports, uses a uniform style of signing throughout the airport properties. Yellow signs direct passengers to airline gates, ticketing and other flight services; green signs direct passengers to ground transportation services, and black signs lead to restrooms, telephones and other passenger amenities.

Former New York City traffic reporter, Bernie Wagenblast provides the voice for the airport's phone system, radio station and curbside announcements, as well as the messages heard onboard AirTrain Newark and in its stations.

The airport has the IATA designation EWR, rather than a designation that begins with the letter 'N' because the U.S. Navy discourages the use of IATA codes that begin with the letter 'N' for United States airports, and because the obvious designator of "NEW" is already assigned to Lakefront Airport in New Orleans, LA.

[edit] References

  1. ^ FAA Airport Master Record for EWR (Form 5010 PDF), retrieved 03/15/2007
  2. ^ Top 20 U.S. Gateways for Nonstop International Air Travel: 2000–2004. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation (2006).
  3. ^ Crain's New York Business Lists
  4. ^ a b ACI passenger figures for 2007
  5. ^ Elizabeth, NJ Plane Crash Kills 28, Jan 1952 | GenDisasters ... Genealogy in Tragedy, Disasters, Fires, Floods
  6. ^ Linton, Weeks. "GREAT SWAMP: A bog so big it boggles the mind", The Washington Post, 2005-09-18. Retrieved on 2007-12-13. 
  7. ^ a b c Air China to Add Flights to Toronto, Rome, 10 Cities
  8. ^ "Virgin says new U.S. rules hurt competition at Newark airport", The Associated Press, International Herald Tribune, 2008-04-12. Retrieved on 2008-04-12. 
  9. ^ http://www.boeing.com/commercial/caft/cwg/ads_b/Closely.pdf
  10. ^ Building a Better Airport
  11. ^ U.S.—India Aviation Partnership Summit (PPT). Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Retrieved on 2008-05-25.
  12. ^ Notice: Continental Express flights moving to Terminal A.. Continental Airlines. Retrieved on 2008-03-14.
  13. ^ Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott

[edit] External links

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