A United Airlines Station Operation Center stands at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, U.S., May 9, 2025.
David Dee Delgado | Reuters
Following a series of major disruptions in New Jersey’s main airport, the Federal Aviation Administration announced on Tuesday it is requiring temporary cuts to flights at Newark after meetings with major U.S. airlines to address congestion.
Newark Liberty International Airport has been dealing with a chaotic series of equipment outages, runway construction and air traffic control staffing issues for weeks.
The FAA interim order did not specify what specific flights are being cut but said it requires 3 to 7 flights to be reduced per hour based on time of day over what was approved last fall.
The FAA said the action will “relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public caused by excessive flight delays at the airport.”
The FAA could add or reduce flights if it determines capacity exists to accommodate more flights without a significant increase in delays, or if further flight reductions are needed.
The FAA held three days of one-on-one meetings last week with the airlines “to find a balance between reducing their operations at the airport and meeting the needs of each individual airline.”
The FAA told airlines on Monday of some additional flight cuts will be required on top of voluntary flight cuts but the order did not specify specific flight cuts.
Asked how United Airlines, which has a large hub at Newark and is the dominant carrier, would be impacted, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told CNBC: “They’re the biggest player at Newark, and … most of (the airlines) will agree (to the cuts). And then you might have to do a little extra push at the FAA to get the numbers that you need.”
United declined comment.
The FAA order allows a maximum arrival rate at Newark of 28 aircraft per hour and departure rate of 28 per hour until runway construction is largely complete by June 15. The maximum arrival and departure rates will then rise to 34 aircraft per hour until October 25.
The FAA will limit flights to 28 per hour on Saturdays through the end of the year because runway construction will continue on Saturdays after June 15.
Under normal circumstances, Newark could handle 77 total flights per hour, the FAA said.
The meetings included United, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air.
United has sharply cut flights at its Newark hub and wants the FAA to impose new limitations on flights there to address ongoing delays.
The FAA last year relocated control of Newark’s airspace to Philadelphia to address staffing and congested New York City-area traffic and the facility has faced numerous technology issues.
Nationwide, the FAA has about 3,500 air traffic controllers, below targeted staffing levels.
