FAA Limits Newark Flights Following Air Traffic Control Problems

() -- US aviation safety regulators will allow fewer flights at Newark airport after technology outages and a staffing crunch fueled a surge in delays and cancellations in recent weeks.

The US Federal Aviation Administration announced that up to 28 flights will be permitted to arrive hourly at the congested airport until June 15 due to ongoing runway maintenance work. This limit will also extend to Saturdays for the remainder of the year. Following this construction phase, the administration stated in their announcement that they will allow 34 aircraft to land every hour until October 25. interim order Released on Tuesday, the new limits will go into effect right away, according to the FAA.

“ Our aim is to alleviate the significant disruption for travelers caused by prolonged flight delays,” stated Chris Rocheleau, the FAA’s interim administrator, in the release.

Many flights were either cancelled or postponed at Newark Liberty International Airport after a malfunction occurred on April 28 affecting both radios and radar systems at a control center in Philadelphia. This same location handles incoming and outgoing airplane traffic. During these outages, which also happened once before this month, air traffic personnel lost their ability to track and contact airplanes navigating through the busy sky region for approximately one-and-a-half minutes.

The order initiates flight limitations that will be enforced by the FAA. proposed on Friday following three days of meetings with airlines. The agency imposed the additional reductions after cutbacks offered by carriers during the meetings fell short of the agency’s plan. The FAA said it will work with foreign carriers that operate at Newark and want to offer voluntary flight cuts.

Earlier this month, United Airlines Holdings Inc. chose to reduce its scheduled daily round trips out of Newark by 35. Following these reductions, their current schedule includes approximately 370 daily flights for most of the summer season, which represents a decrease from last year's total of 395—a drop of about 7%. Currently, due to ongoing upgrades at one of the runways, the carrier is managing with around 290 daily operations.

Once the equivalent number of departures is accounted for, the airport’s flight operations will be capped at 56 takeoffs per hour during the runway construction period. This figure contrasts with over 70 flights per hour that were being managed by the airport during peak times prior to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implementing measures to reduce air traffic because of technological and personnel challenges.

The cuts at Newark might hold particular significance for United, which overwhelmingly dominates the airport. This hub serves as the airline’s largest center for international routes and acts as a key entry point for its domestic operations.

"By decreasing the number of flights planned for Newark, we can better guarantee safe and reliable operations for the remaining scheduled flights," stated United.

Spirit Aviation Holdings Inc., which ranks as the second-largest carrier at Newark, announced in a statement that it will cut its flight schedule from New Jersey’s primary airport by 16% until late October, continuing a downsizing initiative that began back in April.

The FAA has additionally outlined measures to strengthen operations at Newark. This includes replacing outdated copper wiring systems with modern fiber-optic technology, along with intentions to increase personnel levels.

The agency previously said it would finalize flight restrictions at the airport no sooner than May 28, when a public comment period concludes.

--Assisted by Danny Lee.

(Updates with specifics of United’s daily flight timetable from the eighth paragraph, and includes remarks from Spirit Airlines starting in the ninth.)

Most Read from

• America, ‘Nation of Porches’
• Could Frank Gehry’s 'Grand LA' Transform Downtown Into a Neighborhood Feeling?
• Chicago's O'Hare Airport Aims for up to $4.3 Billion in Municipal Debt
• NJ Transit Strikes Ends as Agreement Reached with Engineers After Three Days

©2025 L.P.

Bagikan Artikel ini