At the international aviation industry’s version of the Academy Awards Wednesday, Newark Liberty International Airport‘s new Terminal A received another prestigious award.

The terminal was honored at the 2024 Skytrax World Airport Awards as the world’s best new airport terminal. Leading global airport evaluation firm Skytrax also gave Terminal A its highest, five-star rating less than a month ago. The awards ceremony was held at the Passenger Terminal Expo & Conference in Frankfurt, Germany.

Since opening in 2023, the $2.7 billion, 1 million-square-foot Terminal A has also received a UNESCO Prix Versailles Special Prize for its exterior; LEED gold certification; and the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) in New Jersey’s 2023 Project of the Year honor.

Terminal A marks the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey’s largest ever single investment in the Garden State. It’s also New Jersey’s largest design-build project. Beyond the awards and acclaim, since replacing its 50-year-old predecessor, the new terminal served 15 million passengers in its first year. It features state-of-the-art amenities combined with true Jersey flair and favor — especially its signage, art displays, shopping and dining options.

This latest honor from Skytrax is based on surveys from passengers worldwide taken between August 2023 and March 2024. The feedback evaluated traveler experiences regarding airport facilities, staff service and customer experience ranging from check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration through departure at the gate.

“This award covers new airport terminals that have opened in the previous 18 months of the 2024 World Airport Awards, and covers the full range of airport facilities, staff services, and customer experience evaluation,” said Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted. “It is pleasing to see such a high standard being delivered here at Terminal A, which is very worthy of their award as the world’s best new airport terminal.”

Back-to-back wins

For the Port Authority, it marks two straight years of its airports receiving this honor from Skytrax. In 2023, LaGuardia Airport’s Terminal B took home the world’s best new airport terminal honor.

Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole was part of the team on hand in Germany to accept the award. He said that as a native New Jerseyan, he is incredibly proud passengers selected Terminal A for this global recognition.

“We believe strongly that our region deserves nothing but the best, and Newark Liberty has delivered the best new facility in the world for the State of New Jersey,” said O’Toole.

“From Newark to LaGuardia, and from worst to best, our $30 billion redevelopment of the New York-New Jersey area’s major airports has truly transformed air travel for the millions of people who use our airports,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton. “Our work at the airports reflects best-in-class standards, and we are extremely gratified for the international aviation industry’s recognition that this region is home to two of the world’s best new airport terminals.”

‘Loved by passengers’

Lutz Weisser, managing director of Munich Airport International, the parent company of Terminal A’s operator Munich Airport NJ LLC, noted that while the five-star rating is based on an audit by experts, passenger opinions determine this award.

“Seeing that Terminal A is not only convincing auditors but is also loved by passengers shows us that we have managed to create an extraordinary travel experience at Terminal A,” said Weisser. He added how proud he was of the whole team. “The dedicated work of everybody at Terminal A and all our partners and concessionaires made this prestigious award possible.”

“We are so incredibly proud of this milestone for Terminal A and for Munich Airport NJ,” said Michael Kunz, CEO of Munich Airport NJ LLC. “It is the pinnacle of achievement in both customer experience and the result of years of planning and tireless dedication to the program. This recognition comes with a solemn responsibility associated with maintaining a world-class standard of customer service and terminal operations.”

Gov. Phil Murphy described the award as a tremendously well-deserved honor for the flagship of the Port Authority’s “ongoing renaissance” at EWR.

“It’s no surprise that the industry’s leader has bestowed one of its highest honors on this facility,” said Murphy. “From the distinctly Jersey aesthetic to the first-rate amenities and home-grown attractions, Terminal A is a point of pride for the Garden State that the whole world now gets to enjoy.”