United Airlines and OTG Announce Plans to Re-Imagine the Airport Experience at Newark Liberty

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Sep 15, 2014, 10:00 ET

NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 15, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines and OTG Management LLC today announced plans to transform the dining and retail experience at the airline's hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and create unparalleled services and amenities for United's customers. The program will combine leading-edge technology, award-winning dining and renowned design.

The $120 million capital investment for the project will be provided by OTG, selected by United to oversee the transformation in Terminal C at Newark Liberty, including new chef-driven restaurants, expansive food halls, gourmet markets and world-class retail and duty-free shops.

"Travelers today want the same high-quality dining and shopping choices in the airport that they have at home," said Kate Gebo, United's vice president of corporate real estate. "In collaboration with OTG, United is creating a customer experience at Newark Liberty that will provide exceptional food, beverage and retail options with the comfort and high-tech amenities that our customers have come to expect."

Leading Edge Technology: Upon completion of the planned project, air travelers waiting for a flight will be able to use almost 6,000 iPad tablets free of charge to track their flight, order from chef-created menus, and purchase travel amenities for delivery directly to their seat in the terminal while browsing the internet. And customers will not have to search for an outlet, with over 10,000 outlets and USB interfaces accompanying the redesigned terminal seating.

Chef-Driven Dining with Unique Local Flavor: More than 55 new dining venues are anticipated to provide travelers with an array of culinary choices – including restaurant concepts created by more than 20 celebrated chefs – as well as markets, cafes and exceptional food and beverage service in nearly 60 gate areas. Menus at all price points will emphasize fresh, locally sourced ingredients, and will highlight regional and local dining experiences.

Trendsetting Design: Renowned architects and designers will transform the physical interior of the terminal into a world-class setting that combines comfort with beautiful, free flowing spaces.

"Our goal in partnering with United at Newark Liberty is to put the customer first by creating an environment that is inviting and engaging," said Rick Blatstein, CEO of OTG. "Ultimately, the time spent inside of an airport is very much a part of the journey, and our team envisioned an experience that would appeal to all customers and complement the United brand from terminal to aircraft."

Customers will begin seeing immediate improvements in November, when temporary restaurant locations pop up to offer a taste of what's to come. The full experience is expected to be phased in over the next 18 months.

United in New York / New Jersey

United and United Express offer more flights and more seats from the New York area to more cities around the world than any other airline. United and United Express offer nearly 500 daily departures from the three major New York-area airports to more than 150 destinations – the most in North America, the most across the Atlantic, the most across the Pacific and the most to and from Latin America.

United also offers the most flat-bed seats and extra-legroom economy-class seating from the New York area. The airline offers frequent daily service from the New York-area airports to top business travel markets including Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of more than 5,200 flights a day to 369 airports across six continents. In 2013, United and United Express carried more passenger traffic than any other airline in the world and operated nearly two million flights carrying 139 million customers. United operates nearly 700 mainline aircraft and, in 2014, will take delivery of 35 new Boeing aircraft, including the B787-9 as the North American launch customer, and will welcome 27 new E175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 195 countries via 26 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

About OTG

OTG is an award-winning restaurateur, elevating the airport experience with enhanced dining, design and technology in more than 200 restaurants and retail concepts in 11 airports across North America. OTG has been recognized throughout the industry for its exceptional customer focus and groundbreaking innovation. In 2014, it ranked among the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies in Fast Company Magazine.

Media Contacts:
OTG: Sean Aziz, 646-588-9931, [email protected]
United Airlines Worldwide Media Relations (872) 825-8670, [email protected]

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SOURCE OTG