Ruth Haines
Newark Liberty International Airport, located in New Jersey, is a major international airport serving the New York metropolitan area. The airport, which opened on October 1, 1928, was originally named Newark Metropolitan Airport. In 2002, the airport's name was changed to Newark Liberty International Airport to honour the victims of United Airlines Flight 93, which was hijacked during the September 11 attacks, and to pay tribute to the Statue of Liberty, which is located about seven miles east of the airport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Previous Name | Newark International Airport |
| Current Name | Newark Liberty International Airport |
| Previous Name Change | 1970s |
| Current Name Change | 2002 |
| Reason for Current Name Change | To honour the victims of United Airlines Flight 93 and to pay tribute to the Statue of Liberty |
| Year of Construction | 1928 |
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What You'll Learn
The airport's name change in 2002
The airport now known as Newark Liberty International Airport has had a long and interesting history since it first opened its gates to passengers in 1928. The airport was originally named Newark Metropolitan Airport and was the first airport to serve the New York City metropolitan area. In 1934, the airport's first terminal, the Art Deco Administration Building, was constructed.
In 2002, the airport underwent a name change, becoming Newark Liberty International Airport. This was done to honour the victims of United Airlines Flight 93, which departed from the airport on September 11, 2001, and to pay tribute to the Statue of Liberty, located about seven miles east of the airport. The name change also served as a way to commemorate the tragic events of the September 11 attacks, in which Flight 93 was hijacked and crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
The airport's new name was chosen over the initial proposal of "Liberty International Airport at Newark," emphasising the airport's proximity to the Statue of Liberty. This name change reflected on the airport's enduring legacy as a global gateway, connecting people and destinations worldwide.
Today, Newark Liberty International Airport is one of the busiest and most advanced airports globally, serving as a major hub for United Airlines and handling tens of millions of passengers each year. It has become a symbol of a globalised and interconnected world, playing a crucial role in facilitating travel and trade across international borders.
The airport's rich history, including the name change in 2002, reflects its evolution and adaptability to meet the changing demands of aviation and the needs of its passengers.
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The 1928 opening of the airport
The City of Newark built the airport on 68 acres (28 ha) of marshland in 1928, and it was originally named Newark Metropolitan Airport. It was the first airport to serve the New York City metropolitan area and was, for over a decade, the only one. For 11 years, Newark was the busiest commercial airport in the world until LaGuardia Airport opened in Queens in 1939.
The airport's first terminal, the Art Deco Administration Building, was constructed in 1934. During World War II, the airport was taken over by the Army for logistics operations and closed to commercial flights. When it reopened in 1946, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey took control of it and began making improvements, including the addition of an instrument runway, a second terminal building, a control tower, and an air cargo centre.
In the 1970s, the airport expanded further with the construction of roadways, taxiways, and a third terminal. The airport's name was changed to Newark International Airport. Expansion continued throughout the 1980s and 1990s, with the addition of a fourth terminal, a monorail system, an International Arrivals Facility, and a two-building maintenance complex.
In 2001, United Airlines Flight 93, departing from Newark Airport, was hijacked and crashed in Pennsylvania during the September 11 attacks. In 2002, the airport's name was changed to Newark Liberty International Airport to honour the victims of Flight 93 and pay tribute to the Statue of Liberty, located a few miles east of the airport.
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The airport's early years
The airport that would eventually become Newark Liberty International Airport first opened on 1 October 1928, under the name Newark Metropolitan Airport. It was built on 68 acres of marshland in Newark, New Jersey, and was the first airport to serve the New York City metropolitan area.
In its early years, Newark Airport was considered the busiest commercial airport in the world. This was due to the fact that, for 11 years, it was the only airport serving New York. This changed in 1939 when LaGuardia Airport opened in Queens.
Newark Airport's first terminal, the Art Deco Administration Building, was built in 1934. In 1948, the Port Authority took over the facility and began making improvements, including the construction of an instrument runway, a second terminal building, a control tower, and an air cargo centre.
During World War II, Newark Airport was taken over by the Army for logistics operations and was closed to commercial flights. When the airport reopened in 1946, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey took control of it and resumed expansion. In the 1970s, roadways, taxiways, and a third terminal were built, and construction began on a fourth terminal. The airport's name was also changed to Newark International Airport.
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The airport's busiest year
The Newark Liberty International Airport, originally named the Newark Metropolitan Airport, opened on October 1, 1928, on 68 acres of marshland. It was the first and only airport serving the New York City metropolitan area for over a decade. During this time, it was considered the busiest commercial airport in the world.
However, with the opening of the LaGuardia Airport in 1939, airlines began to move away from Newark, and by the middle of 1940, all passenger airlines had left. When the United States entered World War II in 1941, the airport was closed to commercial flights and taken over by the Army for logistics operations.
After the war, the airport reopened in 1946, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey took control of it in 1948. They made significant improvements, including the addition of an instrument runway, a second terminal building, a control tower, and an air cargo center.
The airport has continued to expand and develop over the years, with various renovations and the addition of new terminals. In 2001, the airport was the site of the tragic hijacking of United Airlines Flight 93 during the September 11 attacks. In honour of the victims, the airport's name was changed to Newark Liberty International Airport in 2002, paying tribute to both the victims of Flight 93 and the Statue of Liberty, located nearby.
In recent years, the airport has consistently ranked as one of the busiest airports in the world. In 2022, it served 43.4 million passengers, making it the 13th busiest airport in the United States and 23rd busiest worldwide. The busiest year to date was 2023, when it served 49.1 million passengers.
Some of the busiest domestic routes include Orlando and Fort Lauderdale in Florida, served by multiple airlines, including United, JetBlue, and Spirit. Internationally, the busiest routes are Paris, France, and London, UK, with Paris being served solely by United and London by United, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic. United Airlines is the largest operator at the airport, serving about 63% of passengers, followed by JetBlue Airways and American Airlines.
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The airport's ranking in the New York airport system
New York City is served by three main airports: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Together, they form the largest airport system in the US and the world in terms of total flight operations.
JFK is the busiest airport in New York City and the sixth busiest in the US. In 2022, it saw an 80% increase in passenger numbers compared to 2021, with 55.5 million people passing through. It is located in Queens and primarily handles international flights, with over 70 airlines flying in and out, most of them international.
LaGuardia is the second busiest airport in New York City, handling 29 million passengers in 2022, a significant increase from the 15.6 million passengers it handled in 2021. It is also located in Queens and mainly handles domestic flights. LaGuardia is expected to handle 35 million passengers annually by 2030.
Newark Liberty International Airport is the third busiest airport in the New York airport system. It is located in Newark, New Jersey, and handles both domestic and international flights. In 2022, it served 43.4 million passengers, making it the 13th busiest airport in the US and 23rd busiest in the world. The busiest year to date was 2023, when it served 49.1 million passengers. Newark Airport is the third-largest hub for United Airlines, which operates in three buildings covering approximately 2 million square feet of airport property.
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Frequently asked questions
The airport's name was changed from Newark International Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport in 2002, honouring the victims of United Airlines Flight 93 and paying tribute to the Statue of Liberty, which is located 7 miles east of the airport.
The airport was originally named Newark Metropolitan Airport when it first opened on October 1, 1928.
The name was changed to Newark International Airport in the 1970s, coinciding with the construction of a new passenger terminal and other expansion projects.
The addition of "Liberty" to the airport's name was chosen to honour the victims of the September 11 attacks and to pay tribute to the Statue of Liberty, a famous landmark located nearby.
