FAA orders Newark cut to 56 hourly

The Federal Aviation Administration on May 20 issued an interim order cutting Newark Liberty International Airport to 56 hourly takeoffs and landings, down from the 77 operations airlines had been scheduling, as the agency moved to ease delays during runway construction and air traffic control staffing shortages. The cap allows 28 arrivals and 28 departures an hour until work on Runway 4L/22R is complete, the FAA said. Outside the daily construction period, the airport will be limited to 34 arrivals and 34 departures an hour through Oct. 25, 2025, according to the agency. By 7 p.m. Wednesday, FlightAware showed 83 delayed flights and 14 cancellations at Newark, NJ.com reported. ### Why did the FAA step in now? The FAA said the May 20 order was needed “to make airport operations more efficient and reduce delays for the traveling public” while Newark dealt with a closed runway and staffing constraints. The Federal Register notice said the agency acted because of a “persistent number of flights above capacity” at Newark. (faa.gov) Runway 4L/22R at Newark has been under construction since April 15, according to FAA materials cited in the Federal Register. The FAA said daily construction is scheduled to end on June 15, but Saturday work will continue through the end of 2025. ### What exactly changed in Newark’s schedule? (faa.gov) The FAA order replaced a higher operating level with a temporary cap of 56 total operations an hour during the construction period. In practical terms, that means 28 arrivals and 28 departures an hour while the runway project is underway. (faa.gov) After the daily construction period ends, the airport will move to a higher but still restricted level of 68 hourly operations — 34 arrivals and 34 departures — through Oct. 25, 2025, the FAA said. The Federal Register later described the order as a targeted scheduling limit reflected in authorized timings for carriers operating at Newark. (faa.gov) ### How much of this is about controllers rather than concrete? The FAA’s public materials tied the Newark limits to both runway construction and air traffic controller staffing shortages. A supporting FAA notice said the airport was contending with construction, controller shortages, historical congestion challenges and aging equipment and connections. (faa.gov) The order did not describe the staffing issue as a one-day disruption. The Federal Register notice said the action was being taken against a backdrop of demand that had continued to exceed what the airport and the air traffic system could reliably handle. (faa.gov) ### What were travelers seeing on the ground? NJ.com reported that by 4 p.m. Wednesday the FAA was showing departure delays of 60 minutes and increasing at Newark. By 7 p.m., FlightAware listed 83 delayed flights and 14 cancellations, and by 8 p.m. that had risen to 86 delays and 22 cancellations, the report said. (federalregister.gov) Newark’s own flight information page said real-time arrivals and departures were subject to change and advised passengers to verify details with their airlines. United Airlines, the largest carrier at Newark, has been among the airlines most exposed to congestion at the airport because of the size of its operation there. ### How long will the restrictions stay in place? (nj.com) June 15 is the next key date in the FAA’s plan. That is when daily construction on Runway 4L/22R is due to end, with the airport then shifting from the 56-operation cap to 68 hourly operations, according to the FAA. (newarkairport.com) Oct. 25, 2025, is the end date in the interim order now in force, and Saturday runway work is scheduled to continue through the end of 2025. The FAA said it would manage Newark through authorized schedule timings under that order while construction and staffing pressures continue. (faa.gov)