United CEO seeks bigger planes, new Terminal B at Newark

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is laying out what the carrier wants next at Newark Liberty International Airport: larger aircraft, some restored flying and a replacement for Terminal B. Kirby told nj.com in an interview published June 2 that United does not want to simply flood the airport with additional departures after last year’s disruptions. He said the airline wants to add capacity in a way that preserves the operational gains Newark has posted in 2026. He also said a new Terminal B is needed as part of the airport’s longer-term buildout. ### Why is United talking about growth at Newark again? Scott Kirby’s comments come after Newark’s performance improved following a period of runway work, staffing shortages and technology problems that triggered delays, diversions and cancellations in 2025. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said this week that Newark has had the most on-time flights among major Northeast airports so far in 2026. United separately said it has posted its best-ever on-time rate at Newark. (nj.com) Federal officials had also stepped in to better align schedules with airport capacity. The Port Authority said the Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Department of Transportation improved staffing and technology while limiting flights to a level the airport could handle more reliably. Kirby told nj.com the airline now wants to build from that more stable base rather than reverse it. (panynj.gov) ### What does Kirby mean by “bigger planes” and “more flights”? United’s immediate pitch is not unrestricted growth. Kirby told nj.com the airline wants to use larger aircraft at Newark and restore some flights that had been cut, while still protecting on-time performance. That approach would let United carry more passengers without relying only on a sharp increase in takeoffs and landings. (panynj.gov) Newark is United’s largest hub in the New York region, so aircraft size matters. When runway, staffing and air traffic constraints tighten, airlines can add seats by upgauging to larger jets rather than multiplying frequencies. Kirby’s remarks to nj.com framed that as the preferred path for Newark’s next phase. ### Why is Terminal B part of the argument? (nj.com) Terminal B is the airport facility Kirby singled out as the next major infrastructure need. Newark has already replaced Terminal A, which opened to passengers in 2023, while the older Terminal B remains in service. Kirby told nj.com that a new Terminal B is needed if Newark is going to support future growth more effectively. (nj.com) The Port Authority has already started the redevelopment process. In 2024, the agency said it had selected 13 firms and joint ventures to compete for a contract to redevelop Terminal B at Newark. That step did not set a construction date, but it showed the project had moved into formal procurement planning. (nj.com) ### Who controls whether Newark actually gets more flying? The FAA remains central because Newark’s flight levels have been managed in response to operational limits. The Port Authority said schedule discipline was part of the reason performance improved this year, and any meaningful restoration of flights would depend on what regulators and airport officials believe the airfield and air traffic system can support. (panynj.gov) United is the dominant airline at Newark, but it does not make those decisions alone. Kirby’s comments amount to a public case for measured expansion: larger planes, selective restoration and terminal investment, rather than a return to the congestion that contributed to last year’s problems. That framing was set out in his June 2 interview with nj.com. (panynj.gov) ### What happens next at Newark? The next visible milestones are likely to come on two tracks. Terminal B redevelopment remains with the Port Authority after its 2024 shortlisting of 13 competing teams, and any further airport-capacity changes will involve the FAA, United and Newark airport officials. Kirby’s June 2 remarks put United on record ahead of those decisions. (panynj.gov) (nj.com)