United Airlines and the Port Authority of New
York & New Jersey have signed a 20-year lease extension through
which United will maintain its significant presence at Newark
Liberty International Airport and make further investments to
ensure the airport remains one of the country’s premier global
gateways.
United and the United Express carriers will
continue their exclusive use of Terminal C and will continue to
operate flights at Terminals A and B. Additionally, the airline
will invest $150 million in ongoing improvements throughout the
term of the lease. While Terminal C is already one of the nation’s
most modern international terminals, United will further develop
its concourse areas and improve baggage handling.
“As the
largest airline in New Jersey and New York and one of Newark’s
largest employers, United is committed to Newark Liberty as a
model of customer service, convenience and efficiency,” said Jeff Smisek, United chairman, president and chief executive officer.
“Our partnership with the Port Authority and the investments
United will make will ensure Liberty’s place as the region’s
leading domestic and international airport for decades to come.”
From
Newark Liberty, United offers more than 400 flights daily to more
than 150 destinations in North and South America, Europe, the
Middle East and Asia. The airline also has more than 13,000
Newark-based employees.
“Thanks to the Port Authority's strong
partnership with United, Newark Liberty has become not only a
world-class airport but also an important driver of economic
growth, jobs and development for the entire region,” said Port
Authority Chairman David Samson. “The continued investment in
Newark Liberty's facilities will ensure that the airport, and
Terminal C specifically, remains a modern, premier gateway for
travelers.”
United Investments at Newark Hub
Since 1981, United and
its predecessor carriers with Newark hubs – Continental and People
Express – have built on a commitment nearly three decades old to
expand and modernize Newark Liberty and establish a hub operation
that would attract passenger revenue and economic growth to the
region.
In 1985, People Express joined with
the Port Authority to complete the construction of Terminal C, a
project which Continental acquired following its 1987 merger with
People Express.
In 2001, Continental’s Global Gateway
initiative, a $3.8 billion public-private partnership, brought new
AirTrain rail connections – the New York area’s only on-airport
rail connection with direct access to New York’s Penn Station and
the northeast corridor – along with new roadways, parking garages,
expanded electronic ticketing facilities, new terminal designs to
facilitate more efficient security screening and an automated
baggage handling system.
Since 2010, United has invested in
its facilities at Liberty to improve customer service and
co-worker experience.
The airline broke ground in January
2013 on a new widebody maintenance hangar at Liberty, a $35
million investment that economic development officials say will
create 200 jobs and generate $12 million in wages and $52 million
in economic activity before its completion, scheduled for
year-end.
United continues to work in conjunction with the
Transportation Security Administration on a $100 million “in-line”
baggage-screening system that, upon completion by year-end, will
speed the movement of checked bags between the check-in counter
and United aircraft.
The airline also is designing a new
$65 million catering facility at Liberty.
United’s Airport
Facility Improvements
United and its airport partners are
investing more than $1 billion in improvements to United’s airport
facilities worldwide.
In addition to the widebody
maintenance hangar under construction at Liberty, United broke
ground in October 2012 on a $45 million widebody maintenance
facility at Washington Dulles International Airport, a major
United hub and gateway to Europe and the Middle East.
At
Terminal B at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston,
where later this month United will open the first phase of an
extensive terminal renovation project, the airline is redesigning
the seat layout in the gate areas, offering electric power at
nearly two-thirds of the seats and space for carry-on baggage. The
airline is similarly retrofitting its gate areas in Terminal 2 at
Chicago O’Hare International Airport later in 2013. Approximately
one-third of United and United Express flights operate to and from
Houston Bush and Chicago O’Hare.
United Club Lounges
On 21 December 2012, United unveiled its new airport lounge
concept with the grand reopening of the airline’s United Club lounge in Terminal 2 at Chicago O’Hare Airport. The 13,300 square
foot United Club features a completely redesigned interior that
reflects elements of flight and travel. United has outfitted the
club with an expansive bar and lounge area, dynamic lighting,
redesigned furniture and additional workstations and power
outlets.
The airline is spending more than $50 million in 2013
to renovate several of the its 51 United Club locations.
Co-worker Breakrooms
United is also investing in facilities for
co-workers to offer them more comfort during breaks. The
airline anticipates completing in May an extensive renovation of breakrooms at Washington Dulles for co-workers in customer
service, ramp operations and technical operations. The renovations
include new furniture, appliances and durable flooring and wall
coverings. United plans to begin similar renovations this year at Chicago O’Hare and later at its other U.S. hub airports.
United Airlines,
Newark,
New York
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