Wayfarer TV: first look inside United’s largest United Club lounge in America at Newark Airport

by James Wilkinson

United Airlines has opened its new, nearly 30,000 square-foot United Club location at Newark Liberty International Airport, offering travellers a modern design, enhanced amenities and culinary offerings, locally-sourced art and furniture pieces and views of the Manhattan skyline.

Located in Terminal C3 near gate C123, this club is the largest club in United’s network, and is opening just in time for the Memorial Day holiday, which the airline expects will be one of its busiest travel weekends so far this year.

“As more and more customers return to the skies, United is committed to delivering a superior customer experience on and off the plane, especially in increasingly crowded airports,” said United’s Managing Director of Hospitality and Planning, Aaron McMillan.

“Our new Newark Club location is carefully designed with the customer at the forefront with thoughtful touches like murals and décor that reflect the local community.

“This design theme and commitment to creating a locally-inspired experience will set the precedent for future club openings and renovations across our network,” he said.

The Newark United Club location features a new design and reflects a modern take on the United Club experience.

McMillan said it showcases many firsts for the club, as well as existing premium offering, including the following:
-The largest club in the network: The club features more than 480 seats across spaces for lounging, working, private dining and socializing.
-Spa-like showers: Members can freshen-up in one of the six, spa-like shower suites at Newark, stocked with Sunday Riley products.
-Coffee shop experience: Staffed by a barista ready to prepare their favorite hand-crafted drinks, flyers can get inspired at the full-service coffee bar, featuring illy signature blend of 100 percent Arabica beans, in addition to culinary offerings in all United Clubs, like complimentary beverages and snacks.
-Modern, Newark-inspired design: Flyers can enjoy unmatched views of the Manhattan skyline amidst locally-sourced furniture pieces and décor, as well as the new design and color scheme that will be rolled-out in future new and refurbished clubs. The space also includes modern amenities, like self-scan entry for quick access and free, high-speed Wi-Fi.
-Sustainable, green materials: As part of the airline’s sustainability commitment, the Club is designed with sustainable materials and features, such as WaterSense-rated fixtures, enhanced indoor air quality, green cleaning and more.

Additionally, in collaboration with The Newark Museum of Art and Gallery Aferro, the new club location prominently features two murals created by local artists, Gilbert Hsiao and Dahlia Elsayed.

Inspired by the musical legacy in the Newark area and United’s iconic history, Hsiao’s mural, located in the club’s entryway, is a deceptively simple, eye-catching piece featuring dots and circles to represent abstract beats in space as well as nod to the United globe.

Elsayed’s artwork, situated in the club’s lounge, is an abstract and textural piece, referencing Arshile Gorky’s famous 1936-67 murals at EWR, with imagery inclusive of built and natural environments of the New York and New Jersey area.

“The Newark Museum of Art is honored to be a part of this remarkable tribute to our community and our city,” said The Newark Museum of Art’s director and CEO, Linda Harrison.

“May these tremendous artworks inspire and remind our residents and visitors of Newark’s role as a cultural hub for artistic excellence and community cultivation.

“We are so proud to contribute to this exciting unveiling and pay homage to our special city with these two extraordinary works of art.

Gallery Aferro’s co-founder, Emma Wilcox, added: “Artists like Gilbert Hsiao and Dahlia Elsayed have a gift, which is to make the world new for us over and over again.

“Gallery Aferro is thrilled to see these acclaimed alumni of our residency and fellowship program gain a new global audience of travelers with this project.”

The Newark United Club location is the first of a series of United Club locations to open with the new club design and amenities.

It’s part of United’s ongoing commitment to renovate and introduce new United Club locations throughout its network and provide a more modern United brand experience.

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