A construction project on one of Newark Liberty International Airport’s three main runways finished early, allowing for the easing of flight limits next week despite a shortage of air traffic controllers. The Federal Aviation Administration expects to increase the flight limits from 28 arrivals and departures per hour to 34 after testing of runway equipment is completed.
The airport has been plagued by cancellations and delays due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, with five currently on trauma leave and another under medical leave. However, officials say the FAA has enough controllers now to handle the higher limit. The airline industry expects this change to improve reliability and reduce delays.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby stated that the new limits should significantly improve Newark airport’s reliability, as airlines were previously scheduling more flights than the airport could handle during peak hours. The government has also upgraded air traffic control software and installed a new fiber optic line to prevent future problems. However, the nation’s air traffic control system still relies on outdated technology, prompting calls for an overhaul.
The FAA plans to revisit flight limits in October after training 16 additional experienced controllers.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/newark-airport-runway-faa-flight-restrictions-controllers-87e42483923fa54c741f7ebce61a8736