The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has formally issued its final order to limit hourly flight arrivals and departures at Newark Liberty International Airport through 31 December 2025.
The decision follows a period of consultation with airlines and the conclusion of a public comment phase.
The limitations are designed to maintain operational stability and safety while reducing flight delays attributed to air traffic control staffing levels and equipment limitations.
However, the FAA noted that the early completion of runway construction at Newark has already helped improve overall efficiency.
Under the new order, which takes effect immediately, flight operations at Newark will be capped at 28 arrivals and 28 departures per hour on weekends during airport construction between 1 September and 31 December 2025. For the rest of the period leading up to 25 October 2025, the hourly cap will be 34 arrivals and 34 departures.
FAA officials cited improved performance over the Memorial Day weekend as evidence that the interim measures introduced in collaboration with airlines and airport operators are contributing to more reliable travel outcomes.
To further support air traffic flow and resilience, the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation have outlined a number of infrastructure and staffing initiatives focused on the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), which supports Newark’s airspace:
- Installation of three high-bandwidth telecommunications lines between New York-area facilities and Philadelphia TRACON to improve communication speed and redundancy
- Replacement of copper lines with fibreoptic technology to enhance reliability and capacity
- Deployment of a temporary backup communications system during the transition to fibreoptic infrastructure
- Creation of a Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) hub at Philadelphia TRACON, enabling it to operate independently from the New York STARS hub
- Continued expansion of staffing at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which currently includes 22 fully certified air traffic controllers and 5 certified supervisors, with an additional 22 personnel in training
The FAA emphasised that these measures are part of a broader strategy to ensure that Newark Liberty remains a safe and functional airport for passengers and carriers while longer-term capacity planning continues.
