FAA Reduces Newark Flights Through October After Fourth Control Outage

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a temporary reduction in flights at Newark Liberty International Airport through late October due to ongoing runway construction, staffing shortages, and frequent air traffic control equipment failures. Flight capacity will be limited to 28 arrivals and departures per hour during weekday construction periods through mid-June, increasing to 34 per hour afterward until October 25, aiming to alleviate severe delays and congestion. This decision follows a series of outages at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control center, which manages Newark's airspace, including four outages in recent weeks that disrupted radar and radio communications. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized that the goal is to ensure that flights that operate actually take off and land on time, reducing long wait times for travelers. The FAA is also working on technical upgrades, such as fiberoptic installations and a new radar hub in Philadelphia, to modernize the outdated systems contributing to the disruptions. Airlines have been engaged in discussions with the FAA to balance operational reductions with their service needs, and some carriers have issued travel waivers to accommodate affected passengers.