The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey unveiled a second sensory room at Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A.

The new, post-security space complements an existing, pre-screening sensory room that opened in December 2023. It also accompanies assisted screening services through the TSA Cares program. The agency says the moves complete its nation-leading, seamless experience from curb to gate for neurodivergent travelers and travelers on the autism spectrum.

Officials held a March 25 event to announce the opening of the new 1,400-square-foot sensory room.

“We’re proud that Newark Liberty’s Terminal A now sets a new standard for accessibility and comfort in air travel,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “With sensory rooms on both sides of screening, along with dedicated TSA support and new amenities like a meditation room and business center, we’re reinforcing our commitment to making air travel more welcoming, more comfortable, and more accessible for everyone who passes through our terminals.”

Key details of this latest addition to the award-winning Terminal A include:

• Immerses travelers in a tranquil underwater-inspired setting – a nod to New Jersey’s coastal heritage and vibrant aquatic life
• Features a fish tank, interactive bubble tubes, and calming sea life projections across aqua-blue floors and walls
• Provides a relevant learning opportunity for families through an aircraft cabin replica that simulates flight through video. This allows travelers to familiarize themselves with the boarding and in-flight experience
• Cabin has replica seats, seatbelts, overhead bins and windows with digital displays simulating the in-flight view

Serving all travelers

“This innovative post-screening sensory room, including its aircraft cabin replica, exemplifies our commitment to designing airports that serve the needs of every traveler,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “As we redevelop our airports into world-class facilities, accessibility, comfort, and seamless travel are at the heart of every decision we make. These new amenities reflect our mission to deliver dignity, ease, and peace of mind for all passengers.”

“With the addition of a sensory room, a business center, a meditation room, Newark Liberty’s Terminal A is now even more inclusive,” said Michael Kunz, CEO of Munich Airport NJ LLC, which operates Terminal A. “We are grateful for our visionary partners at the Port Authority for designing and making these amenities available to our passengers.”

Take a tour of the new sensory room (video provided by PANYNJ):

Port Authority Vice Chairman Jeffrey Lynford noted the benefits of these sensory rooms for families such as his.

“For families like mine who have experienced firsthand the challenges of traveling with a neurodivergent loved one, this kind of supportive environment opens up new worlds,” said Lynford. “These sensory rooms, and the care that went into designing them, can make the difference between a stressful journey and an empowering one.”

Eliza Bozenski is chief development officer of the Anderson Center for Autism. “There’s a tremendous number of people – not just those who have autism, but their caregivers, their grandparents, their friends, anybody who might want to travel with them through hubs like Newark Airport everyday – that’s the number of people that when you do something like this, you are changing their lives,” Bozenski said.