Amazon Global Air to Create 1,000 Jobs at Newark Airport Air Cargo Campus

Enhancements Part of Aggressive, Agency-wide Response to Growing Air Cargo Business and Dynamic Market Trends

On Aug 6, 2021

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey entered into a 20-year lease with Amazon Global Air to redevelop and expand air cargo facilities at Newark Liberty International Airport. This major step forward in providing world-class air cargo service is expected to create 1,000 jobs at the site.

Amazon is expected to transform two existing structures, Buildings 339 and 340, into a new state-of-the-art air cargo campus with a targeted investment of $125 million for renovation. No Port Authority capital funding will be required in support of this transaction. The lease, which remains subject to final negotiation and is expected to take effect later this year, will provide the Port Authority a lump sum upfront payment of $150 million and another $157 million in additional rent over the life of the 20-year agreement, which covers about 250,000 square feet of cargo space on 23 acres at Newark Liberty.

The facility’s transformation will dramatically upgrade Newark Liberty’s air cargo throughput and service capabilities overall.

“This investment in Newark Liberty International Airport will create 1,000 jobs and provide significant opportunities for minority- and women-owned business enterprises,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “Air cargo is vital to the international supply chain, and with this new partnership, Newark will continue to be a global leader in logistics. This new e-commerce hub will provide needed revenue to the Port Authority while also bringing new jobs to our state.”

“Newark Liberty is a critical driver of the regional economy,” said Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole. “This single partnership has the potential to grow the airport’s workforce by almost 5% and enhance its role as a vital part of our recovery from the economic impacts of COVID-19. The months to come will see additional investments as we deliver on our promise of transforming Newark Liberty into a world-class facility for our region.”

“The exciting air cargo project … marks the latest important step in this agency’s commitment to shaping the future of air cargo by expanding capacity at Newark Liberty and by customizing the delivery of world-class air cargo operations and services,” said Port Authority Executive Director Rick Cotton.

All architectural, engineering and construction activity relating to improvements to the facility, as well as contractors and subcontractors involved in operating the new cargo facility, would include good faith participation goals of 20 percent for Minority-owned Business Enterprises and 10 percent for Woman-owned Business Enterprises.

Overall, air cargo supports 22,000 jobs, $4 billion in sales and $1.5 billion in overall wages throughout the Newark region. As customers and vendors continue to turn to online outlets for commerce and goods, Newark has become the regional hub for small packages.

Newark Liberty is in the midst of an airport-wide redevelopment, of which the airport’s cargo business in an essential ingredient. A new state-of-the-art Terminal A is being completed on the south end of the airport. The Port Authority also is moving closer to replacing the outmoded AirTrain Newark. An RFP for a design-builder for the AirTrain was released in May 2021 to four pre-selected design and construction team.

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