
Newark Liberty International Airport, located in New Jersey, is the second-busiest airport in the New York airport system. The airport's IATA code is EWR, which was chosen because the Navy reserved all codes starting with N when airport codes switched from two letters to three. The airport is a major hub for United Airlines and served 49.1 million passengers in 2023, its busiest year to date.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Newark Liberty International Airport |
| IATA Airport Code | EWR |
| ICAO | KEWR |
| FAA LID | EWR |
| Location | Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey, US |
| Distance from Newark | 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of downtown Newark |
| Distance from Manhattan | 9 miles (14 km) west-southwest of Manhattan |
| Busiest year | 2023, with 49.1 million passengers |
| Ranking in 2022 | 13th-busiest airport in the US, 23rd-busiest in the world |
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What You'll Learn
- The airport code for Newark Liberty International Airport is EWR
- The IATA code is EWR because the Navy reserved all codes starting with N
- The airport is jointly owned by Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey
- It is the second-busiest airport in the New York airport system
- The airport's administration building was the first passenger terminal in the US

The airport code for Newark Liberty International Airport is EWR
Newark Liberty International Airport is a major international airport serving the New York metropolitan area. It is jointly owned by the two cities, and the airport itself is leased to its operator, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The airport is a major gateway to destinations in Europe, South America, Asia, and Oceania. It is the second-busiest airport in the New York airport system, behind John F. Kennedy International Airport, and ahead of LaGuardia Airport.
The airport code EWR is assigned by the International Airport Association to help distinguish Newark Liberty International Airport from other airports. When airport codes switched from two letters to three, the Navy reserved all codes starting with N. As a result, Newark Liberty International Airport used the other letters in its name to create the code EWR.
Newark Liberty International Airport served 43.4 million passengers in 2022, making it the 13th-busiest airport in the US and the 23rd-busiest airport worldwide. The busiest year to date was 2023, when it served 49.1 million passengers. The airport serves 50 carriers and is the largest hub for United Airlines, which serves about 63% of passengers.
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The IATA code is EWR because the Navy reserved all codes starting with N
The IATA code for Newark Liberty International Airport is EWR. This is because when airport codes switched from two letters to three, the Navy reserved all codes starting with the letter 'N'. The IATA code for Lakefront Airport in New Orleans is also NEW, so Newark Airport could not be assigned a designation that begins with 'N'.
Newark Liberty International Airport is a major airport serving the New York metropolitan area. It is located in the US state of New Jersey, approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of downtown Newark and 9 miles (14 km) west-southwest of Manhattan. The airport is jointly owned by the cities of Newark and Elizabeth and is leased to its operator, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Newark Airport is the second-busiest airport in the New York airport system, behind John F. Kennedy International Airport. In 2022, the airport served 43.4 million passengers, making it the 13th busiest airport in the US and the 23rd busiest in the world. The following year, in 2023, was the airport's busiest year to date, serving 49.1 million passengers.
Newark Airport has a uniform style of colour-coded signage, designed by Paul Mijksenaar. The airport's radio station and curbside announcements are voiced by former New York City traffic reporter Bernie Wagenblast.
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The airport is jointly owned by Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey
Newark Liberty International Airport (IATA: EWR, ICAO: KEWR, FAA LID: EWR) is jointly owned by the cities of Newark and Elizabeth, New Jersey. The airport straddles the boundary between the two cities, with Newark falling in Essex County and Elizabeth in Union County.
The airport is located approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of downtown Newark and 9 miles (14 km) west-southwest of Manhattan. It is a major gateway to destinations in Europe, South America, Asia, and Oceania. The airport is the second-busiest in the New York airport system, behind John F. Kennedy International Airport, serving 43.4 million passengers in 2022.
Newark Liberty International Airport was first opened on October 1, 1928, as Newark Metropolitan Airport, making it the first major airport in the United States. The airport was constructed on 68 acres (28 ha) of marshland by the City of Newark. During World War II, the facility was operated by the Army Air Corps. In 1948, the Port Authority took over, and significant expansions were made, including the construction of an instrument runway, a terminal building, a control tower, and an air cargo centre.
The airport's original terminal, the Art Deco-style Newark Metropolitan Airport Administration Building, was built in 1934 and dedicated by Amelia Earhart in 1935. It served as the terminal until the opening of the North Terminal in 1953. Newark became the first airport to allow nighttime operations after installing runway lights in 1952.
The airport's unique code, EWR, is due to the fact that when airport codes switched from two letters to three, the Navy reserved all codes starting with N.
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It is the second-busiest airport in the New York airport system
The IATA airport code for Newark Liberty International Airport is EWR. The airport is located in the US state of New Jersey, straddling the boundary between the cities of Newark in Essex County and Elizabeth in Union County. It is approximately 4.5 miles (7.2 km) south of downtown Newark and 9 miles (14 km) west-southwest of Manhattan.
Newark Airport is a major gateway to destinations in Europe, South America, Asia, and Oceania. It is jointly owned by the two cities it straddles, and the airport itself is leased to its operator, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Newark Airport is the second-busiest airport in the New York airport system, behind John F. Kennedy International Airport and ahead of LaGuardia Airport. In 2022, the airport served 43.4 million passengers, making it the 13th-busiest airport in the nation and the 23rd-busiest airport in the world. The busiest year to date was 2023, when it served 49.1 million passengers.
Newark Airport is a major hub for United Airlines, which serves about 63% of passengers at the airport, making it the largest tenant. The airport is easily accessible via the AirTrain Newark, which connects the terminals with the Newark Liberty International Airport Railway Station. The station is served by NJ Transit's Northeast Corridor Line and North Jersey Coast Line, as well as Amtrak's Northeast Regional and Keystone Service routes.
The airport has a rich history, dating back to 1928 when it was built on 68 acres of marshland by the City of Newark. During World War II, the airport was operated by the Army Air Corps. The airport has seen several name changes over the years, initially opening as Newark Metropolitan Airport in 1928, becoming Newark International Airport in 1970, and finally being renamed Newark Liberty International Airport in 2002.
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The airport's administration building was the first passenger terminal in the US
The airport code for Newark Liberty International Airport is EWR. The airport is located in Newark, New Jersey, and serves the New York metropolitan area.
The Newark Metropolitan Airport Administration Building, built in 1934, was the airport's first passenger terminal. The building, designed in the Art Deco style, was adorned with murals by Arshile Gorky. It was dedicated by Amelia Earhart in 1935 and served as the terminal until the opening of the North Terminal in 1953.
The airport's history dates back to the 1920s, when Newark was home to two airfields: Heller Field and Hadley Field. In 1927, calls for a new airport in the area began, and the City of Newark constructed the airport on 68 acres of marshland in 1928. The Army Air Corps operated the facility during World War II, and after the Port Authority took over in 1948, several new structures were built, including a terminal building.
The Newark Metropolitan Airport Administration Building was not only the first passenger terminal in the US but also set architectural precedents. The US, lacking the war infrastructure of Europe, initially built airports from scratch, following the "hangar-depot" building type, where staff, passengers, and airplanes were all accommodated in a single large building. However, dedicated passenger buildings started to emerge in the 1920s, with the first airport in Chicago (now Midway Airport) featuring an Art Deco terminal by 1931.
The Newark Metropolitan Airport Administration Building, with its Art Deco style and murals, exemplified the popular design trends of the time. Its status as the first passenger terminal in the US contributed to Newark Airport's historical significance, and the building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
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Frequently asked questions
EWR.
When airport codes switched from two letters to three, the Navy reserved all codes starting with N.
Newark Liberty International Airport.
A major international airport serving the New York metropolitan area.
49.1 million passengers in 2023.










































