There have been just 10 canceled or delayed flights out of Newark Liberty International Airport Tuesday morning. (Another 16 flights that were scheduled to fly into Newark have been canceled or delayed.) That, according to FllightAware, accounts for just 1 percent of all outbound flights (and 2 percent of all inbound flights)—a stark improvement over recent weeks.
Two weeks ago, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) limited the hourly rate of arrivals and departures at the airport to 28 to help alleviate the airport, which has been struggling with air traffic control staffing shortages, the relocation of its air space from New York City control to Philadelphia, and the closure of one runway for renovations.
Yesterday, however, that runway reopened 13 days ahead of schedule. The planned rehabilitation work was required to meet FAA safety standards for runways. As FAA staffing and operational challenges impacted air traffic controllers’ ability to effectively use the remaining two operational runways at Newark during the project, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey accelerated the construction schedule by bringing in additional crews, expanding shifts and enabling construction to take place 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Runways are typically repaved every 10 years. The 11,000-foot-long runway was last rehabilitated in 2014 and was showing significant signs of wear. The project involves milling and paving the runway surface, updating lighting, improving airfield signs with LED lighting, installing new underground electrical infrastructure, and implementing drainage improvements. The $121 million construction project began in early March and required runway closures on weeknights and weekends, followed by a full 24/7 closure that began on April 15 and was scheduled to conclude on June 15.
To fully complete the rehabilitation project by the end of 2025, closures of the runway will continue on weeknights through the end of the year and on weekends, September through December.
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