The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced an extension of restrictions on flight operations at Newark Liberty International Airport in an effort to reduce congestion and delays.
The current order, which came into effect in June 2025 and was due to expire at the end of December, will now run until 24 October 2026.
From 26 October 2025, the number of permitted arrivals and departures will increase slightly, rising from 68 to 72 hourly operations, with a cap of 36 each for arrivals and departures.
The extension follows consultation with the airport operator and airlines, who supported the continuation of limits to ease congestion. The agency said the measures are intended to balance safety with the need to address delays linked to staffing and equipment pressures.
Construction-related closures also continue to affect operations at Newark, with Runway 4L-22R shut during weekends through to the end of the year.
The measures at Newark form part of wider efforts by the FAA to improve the resilience of air traffic control in the region. Steps taken include:
- Transitioning to a new fibre optic communications network between New York and the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), with two separate routes to improve reliability
- Installing a temporary satellite backup system at Philadelphia TRACON to provide redundancy during the switch
- Establishing a Standard Terminal Automation Replacement System (STARS) hub at Philadelphia TRACON, reducing reliance on the New York hub
- Increasing staffing at Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which manages Newark traffic. The facility now has 22 fully certified controllers and five supervisors, with 27 additional staff in training
The FAA states that these measures are intended to provide more stable operations while supporting the gradual increase in capacity.
