What’s Really Happening at Newark Airport? Here’s What You Need to Know ✈️
Lately, if you’ve been flying in or out of Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), chances are you’ve experienced some delays, frustration, or confusing information. I fly more than 60 times a year (yes, I’m at the airport a lot), and after personal experience and many conversations with airline staff, I wanted to clear the air and explain what’s really going on.
1️⃣ Air Traffic Controller Staffing – Not the Whole Story
Much of the news coverage is focusing on the shortage of air traffic controllers, and while this is a very real and important issue (Governor Murphy has even been pushing hard for support—read more here), it’s not actually the main culprit behind the current wave of delays.
This staffing shortage has been an ongoing issue for years, and while it certainly contributes to congestion, it’s just one piece of a much larger puzzle.
2️⃣ The Big One: Runway Closures ✈️🚧
A major runway at Newark is closed through mid-June for construction and maintenance (details here). This is causing a huge ripple effect:
- ✂️ Reduced capacity: Fewer planes can take off and land at any given time.
- 🔄 Changed traffic patterns: Flights are being rerouted to secondary runways, which require different approaches and timing.
This is a big reason why things are moving slower than usual, and why delays can build up over the course of the day. Last week, my flight was selected to circle Richmond for 20 minutes and than hold outside of Newark for another 15 minutes!
3️⃣ International Flights Take Priority 🌍
If you’re flying internationally, good news—those flights are being prioritized for takeoffs and landings. Unfortunately, this means domestic flights are more likely to be delayed or rescheduled to keep international routes running as smoothly as possible.
4️⃣ United Airlines Cuts to Help the Crunch ✂️
United Airlines, which operates 60–75% of flights at Newark, recently announced they are cutting about 70 flights per day (35 round trips). This move is designed to ease congestion and minimize delays, but it’s worth noting that they didn't do it sooner as they had to get FAA approval before making these cuts. If an airline doesn’t use its assigned flight slots, the FAA can reassign them—so there’s a lot of strategy behind these decisions.
5️⃣ Morning Flights Are Your Best Bet 🌅
From what I’ve seen (and experienced), morning flights are mostly leaving on time. The earlier you fly, the better your chances of avoiding the worst of the backup, which tends to build as the day goes on.
6️⃣ Thunderstorms Make Things Worse ⛈️
Add in our lovely spring/summer thunderstorms, and things can really spiral. Weather delays and cancellations are nothing new, but they’re definitely amplifying the current challenges at Newark.
7️⃣ A Heads-Up on Security: REAL ID Checks Have Started 🆔
And here’s a new twist: security lines are slowing down because REAL ID enforcement started two days early. If you don’t have a REAL ID-compliant ID, TSA moves you to secondary screening, which is slowing down the lines for everyone.
I honestly expected them to create a separate line for non-REAL ID travelers, but so far, they haven’t—and it’s causing longer-than-normal waits (unless you’re in PreCheck). We've got the skinny for you on Real ID in this article. Our best tip for those still trying to get Real ID? New Jersey opens new appointments every day between 5-6am. Additionally for those of us in Morris County, our appointments go quickly but think about making a day of it, hit up a DMV in South Jersey!
✈️ My Best Tips:
- Fly early if at all possible.
- Arrive extra early, especially if you don’t have PreCheck.
- Pack your patience (and snacks!), because lines and delays are likely to be part of the experience for now. 🤞 the runaway repaving stays on schedule and opens in mid-June.
Hopefully, this clears up some of the confusion and helps you plan your next trip through Newark a little more smoothly. ✈️
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