The agency has proposed limiting the airport to 28 landings and 28 takeoffs per hour during runway work set to end by June 15.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on May 16 that it will announce a proposal to temporarily limit the number of flights per hour at Newark airport following meetings with major airlines.
The FAA held several rounds of individual meetings with air carriers this week to discuss flight scheduling reductions as the airport grappled with equipment outages, runway construction, and staffing shortages.
Air carriers that participated in the talks included United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Spirit Airlines, and Allegiant Air, according to the FAA.
The agency has proposed limiting 28 landings and 28 takeoffs at Newark airport per hour, totaling 56 flights per hour, during the runway construction period, which is expected to be completed by June 15.
Outside the construction period, the FAA proposed capping arrival and departure rates at 34 each per hour, totaling 68 flights per hour, until Oct. 25. A final decision on the flight scheduling reductions will be made after the public comment period ends on May 28, it stated.
The agency said it believes that the proposal will help “reduce overscheduling, flight delays, and cancellations to an acceptable level” at the airport.
The FAA has slowed air traffic in and out of Newark following an April 28 incident, in which air traffic control lost all contact with planes for 30 seconds, causing some controllers to take trauma leave. Two additional incidents involving air traffic equipment occurred at the airport on May 9 and May 11.
In a proposal document filed in the Federal Register on May 14, the agency stated that the Newark airport “clearly is unable to handle the current level of scheduled operations.”
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said on May 7 that he was informed by the FAA that Newark could handle only 77 flights per hour during peak periods, but airlines schedules often exceeded that number.
“This math doesn’t work. Especially when there is weather, staffing issues or technology breakdowns—the airspace, taxiways, and runways get backed up and gridlock occurs,” Kirby stated.
