Summary
FAA is transferring control of Newark airspace to Philadelphia to address congested air traffic above NYC this summer.
NATCA agreed to relocate control from Newark to Philadelphia by June to improve staffing challenges.
Airlines operating in Newark, like United, are facing congestion as control staffing shortages persist across NYC airports.
Relocating control of the Newark, New Jersey airspace is set to address current challenges with staffing and congested air traffic above New York City. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted this Wednesday that control of Newark airspace will be transferred to Philadelphia ahead of a record summer travel season.
Struggles around air traffic control staffing issues noted that the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) had signed a memorandum to allow relocation of control from Newark, which is currently controlled by the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control, to the Philadelphia Tower by this coming June.
Photo: Vincenzo Pace I Simple Flying
The FAA believes these changes will ensure that control can meet the increased traffic demand in the Northeast Corridor. Reuters has also reported that several controllers are expected to transfer to Pennsylvania voluntarily.
Related Airlines Ask For Extension Of Minimum Flight Reduction In New York The current reduction is in place until September and airlines hope to extend it to October.
Complex American airspace
Above the skies of greater New York City is the most complex airspace in all of America, with New York’s TRACON being one of the busiest terminal radar approach controls. Last year, the FAA suggested reassigning nearly 100 square miles of Newark airspace to Philadelphia to address the current staffing issues.
Airlines are already feeling the pinch of continued air traffic control staffing issues, which cause congestion and delays for scheduled flights. United, which calls Newark one of its homes, had already reduced flights for summer. The airline’s Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby has previously commented that “Newark has more flights scheduled than the physical infrastructure can handle.”
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Current minimum flight requirements at airports mean that if airlines do not use their allocated landing slots at congested airports for up to 80% of their time. However, a current waiver means that carriers are not currently required to surrender such slots until the issues with the patrol of the skies above are resolved.
Slot waivers for New York
Through October 28th this year, airlines are not subject to losing their unused slots, with the FAA enforcing this requirement until operation and scheduling stability can be provided by its airspace. United Airlines, which, as we have already mentioned, operates heavily in Newark, reinforced this, noting to Travel Weekly that the FAA’s decision reflects the current operational challenges across New York City’s various airports.
“A waiver of minimum slot usage requirements at JFK and [LaGuardia], and a similar policy of prioritizing returned operations at [Newark], is necessary to allow carriers to reduce operations to enable scheduling and operational stability.”
Photo: David Papazian I Shutterstock
Last year, the FAA met its hiring goal of 1,500 air traffic controllers; however, it still believes that 2,600 more, still in current training, are needed throughout the United States.
Related JetBlue Is Offering Free Helicopter Airport Transfers To Newark & JFK For Mint Passengers Passengers can arrive at the airport in mint condition after a scenic and swift transfer between downtown Manhatten to their airport of choice.
Newark Liberty International Airport
IATA/ICAO Code: EWR/KEWR
Country: United States
CEO: James Gill
Passenger Count : 15,892,892 (2020)
Runways : 4L/22R – 3,353m (11,000 ft) |4R/22L – 3,048m (10,000 ft) |11/29 – 2,050m (6,726 ft)
Terminals: Terminal A |Terminal B |Terminal C
