Trouble At Newark? Use This NJ Airport Instead, Politician Says

EGG HARBOR TWP., NJ — As cancellations and delays wreak havoc on travelers' plans at Newark Liberty International Airport, an Atlantic County politician has one solution: expand Atlantic City International Airport.

“I strongly support expanding the use of Atlantic City International Airport to improve air traffic safety along the East Coast,” County Executive Dennis Levinson said in a statement. “There is a critical need at this point, and this is an option worthy of our collective consideration.”

His statement comes amid weeks of trouble at Newark - old tech, a lack of air traffic controllers and more have been causing headaches at one of the country's busiest airports. Read More: Newark Airport ‘Chaos’ Continues (5 Reasons Behind The Delays)

Levinson instead pointed at the only officially designated aviation hub in New Jersey, comprised of Atlantic City International Airport, the FAA’s William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace, and the National Aerospace Research and Technology Park (NARTP), the aviation park that was established by the Levinson administration with the first building opened in 2019.

“Right here in our own backyard, we have an underutilized airport with a 10,000-ft. runway capable of handling the Airbus A380, the world’s largest passenger plane,” Levinson said. “We’re ideally located in proximity to New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. Greater use of Atlantic City International Airport could help alleviate congestion at these larger airports and reduce the impact of some of these significant failures.”

He also said that the county is willing to provide financial assistance for an airport extension if necessary. Along with the existing airport, up to 3 million square feet of air cargo capacity is being added, Levinson said.

“We’re justifiably proud of our achievements. We believe we can be part of a solution to a very serious problem with greater use of the Atlantic City International Airport and the resources available in Atlantic County,” he concluded.