Newark Airport Delays Are Getting Better, Airline CEO Says – Here's Why

NEWARK, NJ — Newark Airport went through a rough patch this spring, with a series of serious equipment failures, a lack of air traffic controllers and major runway construction adding up to create a throbbing headache for many commuters. But just a few months later – after a “diligent” overhaul from authorities – the skies are looking much brighter at one of the busiest airports on the East Coast, an airline executive says.

On Tuesday, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby visited the Brick City to give an update on the situation at Newark Airport. The airline maintains a major hub in the city.

In April and May, the above-mentioned medley of problems – including several radar and radio failures – led to chronic delays and cancelations at Newark Airport.

>> Read More: ‘Chaos’ At Newark Airport (5 Reasons Behind The Delays)

Federal investigators are also probing the possibility that the FAA’s transfer of Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) responsibilities for the airspace surrounding Newark from the New York TRACON to the Philadelphia Air Traffic Control Tower may have also played a role in the chaos. See Related: Feds Launch New Probe Into Frustrating Delays At Newark Airport

Some diligent work from federal officials and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have helped to turn things around, however.

According to Kirby, here are some recent steps that have improved the situation at Newark Airport:

• CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED - Runway construction was completed two weeks early on June 2
• LIMITING FLIGHTS - Beginning in May, the FAA limited Newark flight operations to 68 per hour. This was down from a high of 86, a number that was well above EWR's maximum theoretical capacity even in ideal operating conditions. The FAA has tentatively limited flights out of Newark to 72 per hour through summer 2026.
• NEW EQUIPMENT - In July, the FAA installed a new fiber optic network to support the air traffic control system

According to Bryan Bedford, an administrator with the FAA, the agency has begun addressing the challenges posed by “outdated technology” at Newark Airport.

“This summer, the FAA took immediate action to relieve substantial inconveniences to the traveling public—deploying a temporary satellite backup system, upgrading fiberoptic technology, expanding high-bandwidth telecommunications, increasing controller staffing, and limiting arrivals and departures,” Bedford said.

The work has been paying off, according to United Airlines.

Since the spring, bookings and customer confidence in flying through Newark have bounced back big time, the company reported.

This summer, United celebrated its best operational summer ever at Newark Airport, putting the airport on par with JFK or LaGuardia in New York City for on-time performance. In fact, United flights out of Newark arrived on-time more often this summer than flights operated by airlines out of either nearby airport, spokespeople said.

More than six million people flew United on-time through Newark this summer – the most in the airline's history, the company said.

“Newark is operating better than ever and United's future here is bright – that's a credit to the thousands of Newark employees who deliver for our customers and one another every day,” Kirby said.

“As the FAA and DOT implement their plan of increased staffing and improved technology, the reliability and on-time performance of Newark will only get better,” he added.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy also said the future is looking brighter at Newark Airport.

“Over the past several months, we have worked diligently with our partners at the Port Authority and the FAA to move towards a return to full capacity at Newark Airport, and I am pleased with our progress,” Murphy said Wednesday.

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