The Federal Aviation Administration announced on Friday that Newark Liberty International Airport will experience a significant drop in flights until the end of the year, largely due to ongoing construction and staffing shortages at busy airports.
From September 1 to December 31, only 28 flights will be permitted to take off and land each hour on weekends. During the week, a total of 34 flights can operate until October 25, as detailed in an FAA statement.
“Implementing these confirmed flight limits helps to maintain safety and minimizes delays caused by staffing and equipment issues,” the FAA stated, adding that finishing runway construction sooner would enhance operational efficiency.
Since April 15, when Runway 4L-22R was closed due to safety concerns, the FAA has been overseeing a $121 million repair project. Remarkably, the runway reopened 13 days ahead of schedule, though this left only two runways available for use.
Previously, Newark’s flight capacity was dramatically reduced to 56, down from over 80, primarily because of restrictions related to the two operational runways.
This year, New Jersey airports have faced significant challenges, notably a shortage of air transport managers and issues with faulty technology that has resulted in delays.
A major incident occurred on April 28 when a malfunction involving burnt-out copper wiring caused a blackout at the airport, impacting thousands of travelers.
United Airlines, which handles 75% of Newark’s traffic, has faced criticism for contributing to the congestion at the airport.
The FAA has committed to addressing these challenges by upgrading outdated technology and improving communication systems.
