United Airlines announced on Monday the details of a $120 million renovation plan to bring its hub at Terminal C in Newark International Liberty Airport in line with other major airports in the United States.
The makeover is to include offerings from a passel of famous chefs, complimentary Wi-Fi and other technological updates including the free use of thousands of iPads throughout the terminal’s waiting areas.
Designed in partnership with OTG Management, the design firm responsible for similar improvements to both Kennedy and La Guardia Airports, the updates will include an aesthetic face-lift to open up the space with a light atrium setting and modern, “lounge-like” seating at its almost 60 gates, United said in a press release.
Ten thousand USB and electrical outlets will be added to the lounge areas, but the plan’s technological centerpiece will be the 6,000 iPads installed throughout the terminal, offering passengers the option to not only track their flights and surf the web, but also to order food, beverages and other amenities, like neck pillows, directly to their seat, thus avoiding dragging of luggage through a crowded food court or mall. Deliveries are estimated to take 15 minutes or less and can be ordered in one of 20 different languages.
As for food vendors, it seems at least half of New York’s celebrity chefs are getting in on the airport mini-restaurant business with this renovation.
Alain Ducasse, Marc Forgione, Paul Liebrandt, Alex Guarnaschelli, Mario Carbone and Josh Capon are all designing concepts for Terminal C’s new sit-down dining options; and a “global bazaar” of ready-made grab and go fare is to feature a ramen noodle bar from Shoushin Yanaura (Bassanova Ramen), a meatball cafe from Amanda Freitag (Empire Diner) and a bakery from the chocolatier Jacques Torres.
But perhaps the most intriguing update will be a passenger’s ability to pay for food and other purchases with United MileagePlus award credit. Members with miles will be able to access them by scanning their boarding pass while ordering. Those without miles can use a credit card.
“We view travel as a lifestyle, and our mission is treat the airport itself as a destination, and more than just a place travelers pass through on their way to somewhere else,” Rick Blatstein, OTG’s chief executive, said in the release.
Improvements are to begin this week with iPad and food vendor installations, which are to roll out over the next seven weeks. The remaining updates will continue into 2016.