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The number of flights permitted at Newark Liberty International Airport is being reduced amid rising delays, the Federal Aviation Administration announced on Tuesday.
Passengers have experienced delays of up to five hours as the airport struggles with technology outages, air traffic control staffing, and runway construction.
With runway construction continuing daily until June 15, Newark will be limited to 28 departures and 28 arrivals per hour.
After that date, construction will also continue on Saturdays until the end of the year.
Outside the construction period, the FAA ordered a maximum hourly rate of 34 departures and arrivals until October 25.
Newark, one of the three main airports serving New York City, can typically handle 77 movements an hour.
“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,” said acting FAA administrator Chris Rocheleau.
Tuesday’s interim order comes after the FAA spoke with airlines in one-on-one meetings last week.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has called for the FAA to reduce flights at Newark since the chaos began.
The airline operates about 70% of the flights at Newark, which is a key hub for United.
Kirby also backed Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy’s plan to invest in technology upgrades for the airspace system and to “supercharge” the hiring of air traffic controllers.
The situation at Newark came to a head on April 28 when there was an equipment outage at Philadelphia TRACON, which guides planes in and out of the New Jersey airport.
Controllers were briefly left unable to see where planes were on the radar or communicate with their pilots.
Several controllers were put on trauma leave as a result, worsening the staff shortage. Earlier this month, there was a day with just three controllers on duty instead of the expected 14.
The target for air traffic controllers for the Newark area is 38 certified professional controllers. There are presently 24 controllers, or 63% of the target, the FAA said.
There were also four communications outages within three weeks.
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