The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday announced it will restrict the number of arrivals and departures through the end of the year at the embattled Newark Liberty International Airport.
As the airport continues to experience outages and staffing shortages, the FAA said it would limit the number of arrivals and departures at the busy airport to 34 on weekdays from Sept. 1 through Oct. 25 and 28 per hour from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31 on weekends.
“The confirmed reduced rates will maintain safety while alleviating excessive flight delays at the airport due to staffing and equipment challenges,” the agency wrote in their order. “The early completion of runway construction at the airport that added to the delays will also contribute to a more efficient operation.”
The runway 4-Left/22-Right, which has been shut down since mid-April for repair, was reopened this week — about a week ahead of schedule. Before the construction was done, the FAA reduced the number of arrivals and departures at the airport to 28 per hour.
The airport, one of the largest to service the New York City area, has been embroiled in turmoil with staffing shortages, ongoing construction, communication issues and outdated technology.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy unveiled a proposal in late May to modernize the technology and support the recruitment and retention of more air traffic controllers. He said at least 16 workers were already placed in training to eventually aid the staff as air traffic controllers.
He also teased a new fiber line being developed by Verizon between Philadelphia and New York that would help with communication lapses.
“I don’t want to over promise and under deliver, but if everything goes well, and there can be problems when you test the line, but if it all goes well, we should be able to turn over to this new fiber line at the start of July,” Duffy added.
