FAA announces dramatic cut in flights at Newark Airport for the foreseeable future

The FAA has dramatically cut the number of flights coming in and out of troubled Newark Liberty International Airport for at least the next several months, federal officials said Tuesday.

Only 56 departing and arriving flights will be allowed at the New Jersey airport until  construction at one runway is wrapped up on June 15 – a more than 30% decrease from the 80-plus flights hourly that were previously allowed.

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The limit will continue on Saturdays through the end of the year because of the ongoing runway, the Federal Aviation Administration announced.

The rest of the week, only 68 outbound and inbound flights will be allowed until Oct. 25.

The new order, which takes effect immediately, comes as chaos has gripped the airport over the last several weeks because of air traffic controller shortages, technology glitches and the runway construction.

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Before the crisis, Newark was one of the most crowded airports in the country — handling as many flights as major international hubs on a much smaller footprint.

“Our goal is to relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public from excessive flight delays due to construction, staffing challenges, and recent equipment issues, which magnify as they spread through the National Airspace System,” Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said in a statement.

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Aviation experts have said cutting flights at the airport was the only way to get a safe handle on the travel disarray that has led to hundreds of cancellations and delays leaving fliers in misery.

The FAA noted it could expand the number of flights allowed at a later date if it’s determined the airport can handle it.

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