FAA to Boost Newark Flights After Runway Fix \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ A major Newark Liberty Airport runway project wrapped up nearly two weeks early, paving the way for higher flight limits despite a national air traffic controller shortage. The FAA expects to increase capacity next week after safety testing. The upgrade may ease recent delays and cancellations caused by staffing and system failures.
Quick Looks
- $121 million runway project at Newark completed 13 days early
- FAA expects to raise hourly flight limits by June 10
- Departures resumed; arrivals to follow pending safety tests
- Air traffic controller shortages continue after radar failures
- FAA increased staffing and software upgrades underway
- Flight limits will rise from 28 to 34 per hour
- United Airlines using larger aircraft to maintain capacity
- October reevaluation planned as more controllers get certified
- Outdated tech blamed for system-wide air traffic vulnerabilities
- Congress urged to support overhaul of air control systems
Deep Look
A $121 million construction project on one of Newark Liberty International Airport’s main runways has wrapped up nearly two weeks ahead of schedule, offering a glimmer of relief for travelers who’ve experienced persistent delays and cancellations this spring. The early completion, announced Monday by federal transportation officials, could allow the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to raise the airport’s current flight cap next week—despite ongoing national staffing shortages in air traffic control.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the newly resurfaced runway reopened for departures this week. However, before arrivals can begin using it, essential equipment must pass final safety tests. If all systems check out, the FAA is expected to certify the runway for full use by June 10. This would raise Newark’s hourly limit from the temporary 28 arrivals and 28 departures to 34 each.
The construction, completed 13 days early, aimed to improve capacity and runway durability. Crews worked around the clock to complete the job efficiently, especially amid growing pressure from delays that have plagued one of the New York metro area’s busiest airports.
But the challenges at Newark go beyond concrete and asphalt. The airport has been severely affected by a shortage of certified air traffic controllers, worsened by technical breakdowns in late April and early May. On April 28, a radar and communications failure at the FAA’s Philadelphia control facility prompted five certified controllers to take 45-day trauma leave. One additional controller went on medical leave, leaving just 16 certified controllers and five supervisors to manage the busy airspace. Sixteen trainees are currently progressing toward certification, which officials say may not be completed until October.
According to Duffy, “the problem we’re seeing with controllers—it can’t be fixed overnight. It takes time to train up on this airspace.” He added that the Philadelphia facility is not alone; the U.S. is facing a shortfall of approximately 3,000 air traffic controllers nationwide.
Despite the staff crunch, the FAA believes the Philadelphia center now has enough personnel to safely manage the planned increase to 34 flights per hour at Newark. That’s still below the pre-disruption figure of 38 to 39 hourly takeoffs and landings.
United Airlines, Newark’s primary carrier, expressed support for the FAA-imposed flight caps. CEO Scott Kirby called the limits “a turning point” for the airport. In the past, airlines often over-scheduled, cramming more flights into peak hours than the airport could handle. This led to frequent delays, compounding traveler frustration and damaging reliability metrics.
Kirby said United had already anticipated the FAA’s next move and scheduled flights accordingly. He also revealed that to mitigate the temporary capacity drop, United switched to using larger aircraft to keep overall passenger volumes steady.
Despite operational improvements, public perception remains bruised. With negative headlines about radar outages and flight disruptions dominating the news cycle, ticket sales have dipped. Kirby noted that travelers flexible enough to fly out of Newark now might find better-than-usual deals on fares.
Meanwhile, the FAA is taking steps to prevent further disruptions. After a second radar outage occurred on May 9, the agency implemented software upgrades at the Philadelphia facility. These updates helped avert another potential failure just two days later, when a radar signal issue stemming from New York threatened to repeat the incident.
Verizon has also stepped in, laying a new fiber-optic communication line between Philadelphia and New York to replace outdated infrastructure. The line is expected to be operational by July after rigorous testing.
Transportation Secretary Duffy has used the incidents as a case study to advocate for a broader overhaul of America’s aging air traffic control systems. He warned that similar system failures could occur at any time and in any region due to reliance on decades-old technology. While he pushes for a comprehensive modernization plan, he acknowledged the uphill battle in convincing a divided Congress—especially as House Republicans propose sweeping cuts to most federal agencies.
Looking ahead, the FAA plans to reassess Newark’s flight limits in October. By then, it hopes that more controllers will be certified and new systems fully integrated to enhance both safety and efficiency at one of the country’s most crucial travel hubs.
FAA to Boost FAA to Boost FAA to Boost
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