FAA Proposes Extending Limit on Newark Operations

Staffing at facility that oversees the airspace has ‘not materially changed’ since June.

Jack Daleo

Monday, August 11, 2025 at 01:54 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

United Airlines, for which Newark Airport is a key hub, stands to gain the most from the proposed operational limits. [Courtesy: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA proposes extending operational limits at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) to 72 flights per hour through October 2026 to mitigate ongoing flight disruptions.
These limits are primarily driven by persistent air traffic control (ATC) staffing shortages at the Philadelphia TRACON facility, which oversees Newark's airspace and is only 48% staffed in the relevant unit.
Additional contributing factors include past equipment issues (some addressed by fiber optic upgrades) and ongoing runway construction, with weekend operations capped at 56 per hour during certain periods.
Airlines, such as United, support the proposed limits as they provide greater certainty for scheduling and have reportedly improved Newark's on-time performance.

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Under a new FAA proposal, Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) could continue to operate with limits on hourly arrivals and departures through October 2026.

To combat flight disruptions due to a combination of staffing shortages, equipment issues, and runway construction, the regulator on Friday proposed limiting Newark Airport to 72 operations per hour through October 24, 2026. Due to ongoing construction on the airport’s runway 4L-22R, operations on weekends from September through the end of 2025 are capped at 56 per hour.