Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is one of the major airports serving the New York metropolitan area, together with JFK Airport and LaGuardia.
The airport is located in Newark, New Jersey, and operated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Newark is about 9 miles southwest of Manhattan and about 33 miles by road to JFK Airport.
In 2024, Newark saw nearly 49 million passengers, making it the 14th busiest airport in the US and among the top 40 globally.
Major Airlines - United Airlines, Spirit Airlines
Newark Liberty is a hub for United Airlines, which takes up over 60% of the airport’s flight capacity. It flies a combination of domestic and international routes to cities in North and South America, Europe, and Asia. It operates from Terminals C and A.
United Express, a regional airline that supports United’s operations, also flies from EWR to smaller cities across the US and Canada.
The ultra-low-cost airline Spirit uses Newart as an operating base. It flies exclusively within the USA.
Other American airlines with scheduled flights at EWR include Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier, Allegiant Air, and JetBlue. These airlines have other hubs in New York or around the US and thus fewer flights serving Newark, especially compared to United. Terminal A handles all domestic flights.
There are a fair few international airlines that fly to Newark. These include:
Aer Lingus, which flies to Dublin.
Air France, which flies to Paris.
Air India, which flies to Delhi and Mumbai.
Austrian Airlines, which flies to Vienna.
British Airways, which flies to London LHR.
Ethiopian Airlines, which flies to Addis Ababa.
Emirates, which flies to Dubai.
Icelandair, which flies to Reykjavík–Keflavík.
Singapore Airlines, which flies the world’s longest flight to Singapore.
LOT Polish Airlines, which flies to Warsaw and seasonally to Kraków and Rzeszów.
Lufthansa, which flies to Frankfurt and Munich.
Scandinavian Airlines, which flies to Copenhagen, Oslo, and Stockholm.
SWISS, which flies to Zurich.
TAP Air Portugal, which flies to Porto and Lisbon.
Turkish Airlines, which flies to Istanbul.
All international flights by airlines other than United, except for those pre-cleared in the departing airport, use Terminal B.
In total, over 30 airlines serve Newark and connect it to more than 180 destinations around the world.
See a full list of airlines here.
Terminal Layout and Gates of EWR
Presently, EWR comprises three terminals as follows:
Terminal A: Primarily handles domestic flights and is used by airlines such as American, JetBlue, and Delta.
Terminal B: It handles most foreign carriers as well as domestic ultra-low-cost operators like Spirit and Allegiant.
Terminal C: Dedicated to United Airlines operations.
The AirTrain connects all terminals, parking lots, and rental car facilities landside.
To travel between the terminals airside, use the shuttle bus, which doesn’t require crossing Security. It is only available for passengers connecting flights of Star Alliance carriers. See below for more information about transits and connecting flights.
Check out this list of destinations you can reach from Newark Airport.
Connecting Flights and Transit at Newark
United Airlines operates an airside bus that connects the three terminals of EWR. This is, however, not as straightforward as regular airport shuttle buses.
For starters, the shuttle bus connects Terminals A and C directly between 4 AM and 12 AM.
A separate shuttle goes from Terminal A to Terminal B and from Terminal C to Terminal B, but not the other way around. This service operates between 1 PM and 11 PM. It is useful for domestic-to-international connections with United Airlines and/or a partner Star Alliance airline.
In other words, if you arrive at Terminal B, you cannot use this airside shuttle bus.
If you’re flying into the USA with any airline, you will have to clear Immigration and Customs and re-check your luggage. As a matter of fact, all passengers coming into the USA need to re-check their luggage themselves, even if the two flights are under the same reservation (PNR).
The minimum connecting time at Newark is thus as follows:
60 minutes for domestic-to-domestic.
75 minutes for domestic-to-international (if with United, otherwise allow 90 minutes).
120 minutes for international-to-domestic.
120 minutes for international-to-international connections.
Wi-Fi at Newark Airport
Free unlimited Wi-Fi is available throughout all terminals at EWR.
To connect, select the network "_Free EWR WiFi" and follow the on-screen instructions.
The network is unlimited in both duration and bandwidth, and the speed is fast enough for most daily needs.
Dining Options at EWR
Newark is great for foodies who will find interesting places to eat at any of the terminals.
From proper sit-down restaurants with American classics or foreign cuisine, through pop-up coffee kiosks and popular fast food chains, to pastry shops and delis, Newark truly has something for everyone.
Here are some of the best places to eat in each terminal:
- Terminal A: With a grand new renovation project finished in 2022, Terminal A is now a shiny new masterpiece with tons of food options. If in doubt, go to the Central Plaza, where many restaurants are concentrated.
Ess-A-Bagel: bagels, spreads, and sandwiches at Gate 15.
Shake Shack: A popular American burger brand. Find in the South Pier.
Mediterranean Grill: Discover the fresh delights of Italian, Greek, Middle Eastern, and Turkish cuisines in the food court of the Central Plaza.
- Terminal B: As the International Terminal, you will find a lot of variety and different cuisines here. Head to the food court for several restaurants in one place.
Belgian Beer Cafe serves beer, burgers other bar foods in the Rotunda before Security.
Panda Express: A well-known Chinese food brand located in the Food Hall, landside.
Smashburger: If you like thin smashed patties in your burgers, go to the Food Court after Security.
Zaro’s Bakeshop: A famous New York-based bakery chain. Find before Security.
- Terminal C: It may come as a surprise, but Terminal C has just as many dining options as the other two terminals.
Abruzzo Italian Steakhouse: Opened by famous chef Mario Carbone, this steakhouse serves classy Italian meals near Gates C70 to 99.
Garden State Diner: Serves all-day breakfast, sandwiches, salads, and has a full bar. Find between gates C101 and C115.
Oeno Wine Bar: It has a large selection of wines paired with panini. It’s near gates C70 to 99.
These restaurants and bars, plus more than 50 others, create a huge variety of dining establishments in Newark Airport.
Lounges in Newark Liberty Airport
With almost 50 million passengers walking through its doors in a year, it’s no wonder that Newark has a decent number of lounges for the premium travelers.
United Airlines, taking more than two-thirds of passenger traffic at EWR, has 4 lounges:
A United Club in Terminal A.
Two more United Club lounges in Terminal C, one near Gate C73, one near C123.
A United Polaris Lounge in Terminal C, between gates C102 and C120.
These lounges are open from 5 AM until 10 PM daily and offer similar facilities like a buffet, showers, and premium Wi-Fi.
To enter, you must either have an active membership in any of the various United programs and VIP lists or pay 59 USD at the door.
The other two major US airlines also have their respective lounges at Newark:
American Airlines Admirals Club in Terminal A, across from gate A8.
Delta Sky Club in Terminal A, also near gate A8.
Access is permitted under similar conditions - have a premium membership, or pay at the door: 50 USD for the Delta Club or 79 USD for the AA Admirals Club.
Other airlines with their executive lounges at EWR, all in Terminal B, are:
British Airways Lounge near gates B50 to B58.
Lufthansa Business Lounge next to gate B60.
SAS Lounge near gate B60.
Generally, access to these is possible only when flying with the respective airline as a business or first-class passenger, or if you have premium status.
Lastly, check out these lounges, which have no airline association and welcome all passengers willing to pay the entrance fee:
Be Relax Spa in Terminal A, near gate A7. Open from 9 AM until 9 PM and accepts Priority Pass.
LOUNGE&CO in Terminal B, near gates B51-B57. Formerly the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse, now a cozy lounge for charter airlines and everyone else, too.
USO Center in Terminal B, outside Security on level 2. It’s open from Thursday to Monday between 10 AM and 6 PM for those on active duty, in the National Guard, and reserve military personnel and their families.
Public Transportation at Newark Airport
There are multiple convenient options to reach Newark Liberty International Airport or to get to various places around New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania from the airport.
Public transport is undoubtedly the cheapest way to travel and is frequent enough to make it the best choice to get to most destinations.
The AirTrain Newark provides free service between terminals and connects to NJ Transit and Amtrak trains for access to New York City and other destinations. Using the AirTrain between the terminals is free, but incurs an 8.50 USD fee to leave the airport premises (e.g. to connect to the regular trains). The AirTrain operates 24/7 with frequencies between 3 and 15 minutes, depending on the time of day.
NJ Transit offers connections from EWR to New York Penn Station, Trenton, and other locations by train. You can reach New York Penn Station in about 30 minutes from EWR.
Amtrak service on the Northeast Corridor can get you to Philadelphia in about 70 minutes.
There are also several NJ Transit Bus Lines that serve the airport. These include lines 28, 37, 62, 67, and 107 that go to destinations in the region, as well as the Express Bus that runs every day from 5 AM until 1 AM and stops at major New York hubs like Grand Central Station, Bryant Park, and the Port Authority Bus Terminal. The ticket for this bus costs 22.50 USD one-way, or 38.50 USD for a round trip.
Private Transport Options at Newark
Taxis are readily available outside all terminals of EWR. Make sure you take an officially registered taxi and never accept services from unsolicited touts at the airports.
An approximate cost before tolls and tips (which are customary in the US for taxi services) to get from EWR to Manhattan is about 60-80 USD, depending on the destination.
App-based ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft also operate at EWR and may be a more convenient option for some travelers. They have designated pick-up and drop-off areas in front of the terminals.
Lastly, several shuttle companies like SuperShuttle and Prime Time Shuttle offer shared and private ride options. It is easy to contact an authorized shared-ride or private car service using the self-service kiosks at the Port Authority Welcome Center located on the Arrivals level of each terminal. Check here for private transfers from EWR instead.
Renting a car is another option, especially for those who prefer to drive by themselves or go multiple places outside of the transport network. Car rental companies like Avis, Budget, Dollar, and Hertz have offices located in the consolidated Rental Car Center within the Parking A Garage.
Transport between EWR and other New York Airports
Several options exist to travel between the 3 major NYC airports (EWR, JFK, and LGA), both public and private transport:
The ETS Air Shuttle: a shared shuttle van running between any 2 airports in NYC.
A metered taxi: Would take about 90 minutes from EWR to LaGuardia (~100 USD) and about the same time to reach JFK (~140-180 USD).
Private limousine: Inquire at the Ground Transportation Information Counter in the Airport Baggage Claim Area.
Parking at EWR
EWR offers 4 parking facilities in total: 2 short-term lots in front of the terminals, 1 daily parking with access to the AirTrain, and a budget-friendly parking lot connected by a shuttle.
Short-Term Parking A: Suitable for brief stays. Each 30 minutes costs 5.25 USD, with the 24-hour maximum being 65 USD (50 USD if prebooked).
Short-Term Parking B&C: Also best suited for short stays. Each 30 minutes costs 5.25 USD, with the 24-hour maximum being 70 USD (50 USD if prebooked).
Daily Parking: Located in Garage P4 and connected to terminals via the AirTrain. It’s a bit cheaper than the short-term parking lots at 4.25 USD per 30 minutes, capped at 60 USD per day (40 USD if prebooked).
Economy Parking: Situated further from the terminals, with a shuttle service provided. The first 24 hours of parking cost 35 USD, with each 12 hours thereafter an additional 17.50 USD (30 USD per day if prebooked).
Electric vehicle charging stations are available on the Ground Level of Garage P4 and on Levels 4 and 5 of Parking A. The electricity is free of charge.
Hotels near Newark Liberty Airport
At the heart of Newark Airport is the Newark Liberty International Airport Marriott. It offers an unbeatable lodging location with easy access to all terminals. It offers a solid modern experience with clean, stylish rooms, a classy restaurant with good food, a wonderful gym, and not the least, park&fly packages which carry a lot of value for money.
Several other hotels are located a few minutes by car outside the airport. Most, if not all, offer complimentary shuttles to the terminals. The Hampton Inn Newark Airport and the Hilton Hotel Newark Airport are notable accommodation options with their comfort, convenience, and high standards of service.
New York, NJ, USA
