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FAA Caps Newark Flights as Delays, Outages, and Staffing Shortages Persist

New restrictions limit flights to 28 per hour through mid-June, with gradual increases planned, while modernization efforts and hiring initiatives aim to address long-term issues.

People wait in line for a delayed flight at Newark International Airport on May 5 in Newark, New Jersey.
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Overview

  • The FAA has imposed a temporary cap of 28 arrivals and departures per hour at Newark Liberty International Airport until June 15, rising to 34 per hour during non-construction periods through October 25.
  • Four air traffic control equipment outages since late April, including radar and radio failures, have raised safety concerns and exacerbated staffing shortages.
  • A chronic shortage of air traffic controllers has left the Philadelphia TRACON, which oversees Newark's airspace, operating at just 63% of its target staffing level.
  • Runway construction at Newark continues to limit airport capacity, contributing to delays of up to five hours for passengers.
  • The FAA and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are advancing plans to modernize outdated systems and increase staffing, but full implementation is expected to take several years pending congressional funding.