Newark Liberty Airport opens new sensory room in Terminal A to support neurodivergent travellers

The following article was published by Future Travel Experience

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has announced the opening of a second sensory room at Newark Liberty Airport’s Terminal A, providing an inclusive experience for neurodivergent travellers.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey – a Corporate Partner of the FTE Digital, Innovation & Startup Hub – has announced the opening of a second sensory room at Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A, as part of comprehensive efforts to provide a seamless travel experience from curb to gate for neurodivergent travellers and travellers on the autism spectrum. The new post-security screening sensory room complements Terminal A’s existing pre-screening sensory room and assisted screening services through the TSA Cares program.

“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 centre, we’re reinforcing our commitment to making air travel more welcoming, more comfortable, and more accessible for everyone who passes through our terminals.”

Sensory rooms elevate the customer service experience by providing a peaceful refuge from what can often be an overwhelming, overstimulating environment for neurodivergent and special needs passengers. Additionally, a new meditation room and other accessibility features are also now available at Terminal A, reinforcing the Port Authority’s commitment to inclusive and comfortable travel. Across the agency’s unprecedented redevelopments of its major airports, it has prioritised creating a seamless, relaxed and accessible travel experience while accommodating passengers of all needs and abilities.

“For families like mine who have experienced first-hand the challenges of traveling with a neurodivergent loved one, this kind of supportive environment opens up new worlds,” said Port Authority Vice Chairman Jeffrey Lynford. “These sensory rooms, and the care that went into designing them, can make the difference between a stressful journey and an empowering one. They allow families to travel with greater ease, confidence, and joy, creating opportunities for connection and exploration that might have once felt out of reach.”

The new 1,400-square-foot post-screening sensory room immerses travellers in a tranquil underwater-inspired setting, which is a nod to New Jersey’s coastal heritage and vibrant aquatic life. It features a fish tank, interactive bubble tubes and calming sea life projections across aqua-blue floors and walls. The space also provides a relevant learning opportunity for families through an aircraft cabin replica that simulates flight through video, which allows travellers to become familiar with the boarding and inflight experience. The cabin includes replica seats, seatbelts, overhead bins and windows with digital displays simulating an inflight view.

“This innovative post-screening sensory room, including its aircraft cabin replica, exemplifies our commitment to designing airports that serve the needs of every traveller,” 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.”

Michael Kunz, CEO, Munich Airport NJ LLC, commented: “As the terminal operator, we’re always looking for ways to enhance the passenger experience. From art displays and music to diverse retail options and new amenities, we’re committed to creating a more welcoming journey. With the addition of a sensory room, a business centre and a meditation room, Newark Liberty’s Terminal A is now even more inclusive. We are grateful for our visionary partners at the Port Authority for designing and making these amenities available to our passengers.”

This space complements Terminal A’s pre-screening sensory room, which opened in December 2023 and offers a peaceful forested riverbank environment. Both sensory rooms were developed in consultation with the Anderson Center for Autism, which also trained airport staff on best practices for engaging with neurodivergent travellers. Travellers can move from the pre-screening room directly to a dedicated TSA Cares screening lane staffed by specially trained personnel, and then into the post-screening sensory room in just a few steps, providing a seamless, supportive experience within the airport.

“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,” said Eliza Bozenski, Chief Development Officer of the Anderson Center for Autism. “You’re giving them an opportunity to leave their homes, where they often feel very isolated in the safest space they can stay in for a number of reasons.”

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Newark Liberty Airport opens new sensory room in Terminal A to support neurodivergent travellers