FAA Caps Newark Flights to Fix Delays from Construction Woes
Published Date: 6/10/2025
Notice
Summary
Starting June 6, 2025, Newark Liberty International Airport is cutting back the number of scheduled flights to fix big delays caused by construction, staffing, and equipment problems. This change affects airlines flying in and out of Newark and will last until December 31, 2025. The goal? Smoother skies, fewer delays, and happier travelers without extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
8 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 4 costs, 2 mixed.
Penalties for Exceeding Limits Per Flight
A carrier that operates above the limits may face civil penalties: up to $75,000 per flight for carriers that are not small businesses, and up to $16,630 per flight for carriers that are small businesses. The FAA may also seek injunctions in U.S. District Court.
Hourly Flight Caps at Newark
From June 6, 2025 through June 15, 2025 (and on weekends from September 1, 2025 through December 31, 2025, Fri 11 p.m. to Sun 5 a.m. ET), scheduled operations at Newark (EWR) are limited to no more than 28 arrivals and 28 departures per hour. From June 16, 2025 through October 25, 2025, the limit is no more than 34 arrivals and 34 departures per hour.
No New Scheduled Flights Allowed
While the Order is in effect, the FAA will not accommodate any new scheduled operations at Newark (EWR); existing scheduled timings are the only ones to be accommodated under the Order. The FAA encourages use of nearby airports for additional regional access.
Historic Priority for Reduced Timings Retained
Carriers will retain historic priority for the next corresponding scheduling season for authorized scheduled timings that were reduced or re-timed under the delay reduction proceedings, subject to any prioritization requests reviewed by the FAA and DOT.
Order Intends to Reduce Delays for Travelers
The FAA states the Order is intended to relieve substantial inconvenience to the traveling public caused by excessive flight delays at Newark and to provide more efficient use of the national airspace from June 6, 2025 until December 31, 2025.
Unscheduled Flights Handled First-Come
The FAA will continue to accept unscheduled operations at Newark — such as cargo, charter, or nonscheduled foreign carrier flights — on a first-come, first-serve basis, subject to approval by FAA Slot Administration and EWR terminal approval.
Approval Required to Move or Swap Timings
Carriers must obtain the FAA Administrator's written approval before moving a scheduled arrival or departure outside its authorized half-hour window, and any swap between carriers requires written notice from designated representatives and FAA confirmation before it takes effect.
FAA Won't Release Carrier-Level Reduction Data
The FAA will not publish disaggregated flight reduction allocations by carrier because that information is protected as business confidential at carrier request; the public may instead review origin and destination data from the Bureau of Transportation Statistics.
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