See renderings of the upcoming renovations at Newark Airport near NYC

Flying out of Newark is often cheaper than flying out of JFK or LaGuardia airports, but getting there is definitely a pain. But in about five years it will be even more worth the trek from NYC.

In November Port Authority of New York and New Jersey released renderings of huge updates to come Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) that includes a new 2.5-mile elevated rail system to replace the existing AirTrain and add three new stations serving Terminals A, B and C. Construction will also replace the current Terminal B and update Terminal C.

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In addition, PANYNJ works to improve airport operations, efficiency, security, aircraft parking capacity, as well as passenger waiting areas and its roads. Already, the newly reopened Terminal A offers a more flexible experience with 33 gates, four lounges and four lanes for curbside drop-off and pick-up, designed to serve 13 million passengers a year.

In case you didn’t know, Newark’s existing AirTrain didn’t open until 1996, and according to the Port Authority, it’s outdated and unable to meet today’s demand for air travel. Before the pandemic, it carried an average of 33,000 passengers a day, or approximately 12 million passengers a year. Year-to-date, AirTrain Newark served nearly 5.5 million passengers in 2024, with the vast majority using the system at the airport to transfer between airport facilities, according to PANYNJ.

When it reopens in 2030, the new AirTrain Newark will be a whole “ma single, reliable automated train system for passenger transport,” says the port authority.

“Our major airports are the gateways to this region for the rest of the world, and ensuring easy, reliable public transportation to and from the airport is critical,” Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton said in a statement. “As we embark on Newark’s vision plan, a new AirTrain is essential to both accommodate increasing volumes at our airports and deliver a world-class passenger experience for Newark Liberty passengers.”

Construction of the new AirTrain is scheduled to begin in 2025 with passenger service expected in 2030.

In terms of the new terminals, a world-class international terminal is planned to replace the current Terminal B, and updates are set for Terminal C with a more efficient and resilient taxiway network with more space to accommodate the industry’s trend towards larger aircraft. More redundancies will be added to minimize delays during irregular operations, and more de-icing facilities will be added to ensure planes can get out more often when the weather is bad. Of course, they want the industry’s latest security standards.

For passengers, there will be larger sidewalks and waiting, loading and unloading areas that will be closer (to reduce walking distances) and AirTrain access will be simplified. Access for cyclists, pedestrians and service vehicles will also be improved and roads will be “streamlined” to allow traffic to flow more easily.

“As we work on a modern new airport in Newark that will include new or expanded airport facilities, a reliable mass transit system at the airport will ensure that passengers and airport workers can get where they need to go in a new state of—the latest AirTrain— system,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole in a statement.

The Port Authority will begin its two- to three-year planning process in 2025. The project’s budget is now $3.5 billion.

You can follow along at EWRredevelopment.com.