New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and the Port Authority on Friday announced a closed runway at Newark Liberty International Airport will reopen 13 days ahead of schedule, allowing regular runway operations to resume Monday.
The planned rehabilitation work was required for Runway 4L-22R to meet Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety standards for runways.
Since FAA staffing and operational challenges limited air traffic controllers’ ability to effectively use the remaining two operational runways during the closure, the Port Authority accelerated the construction schedule by bringing in additional crews, expanding shifts and enabling construction 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“I commend the crews who have worked tirelessly to get this critical project done ahead of schedule,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “I’m grateful for New Jersey’s partnership with the Port Authority and the FAA as we work to return to full capacity at Newark Airport. New Jersey will do all we can to support plans from the [U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)] to invest in modernizing our air traffic control system and fully staffing our air traffic controllers.”
Newark Airport has faced lengthy delays after a runway was closed due to repairs and a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers weighed on its operations. (Getty)
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said as airports approach the busy summer travel season, the additional runway is a “key milestone” that puts the Department of Transportation on a path to further reducing congestion, enhancing safety and ensuring a seamless travel experience.
“With the runway completed, we’ll continue our work to harden the telecoms infrastructure and improving the staffing pipeline for the airspace,” Duffy wrote in a statement.
In an interview with Fox News’ Steve Doocy Friday, Duffy gave a rundown of what he thinks are the major issues causing nationwide delays and cancellations.
“So, listen, what’s happening is we have weather. It happens at this time of year, No. 1. No. 2, we have a limited amount of controllers with 3,000 short nationally. And then, specifically in Newark, we have our runway that’s been shut down.”
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Runway 4L-22R, which is 11,000 feet long, was last renovated in 2014 and was showing significant signs of wear. Runways are typically repaved every 10 years.
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 started April 15, according to a news release from the governor’s office.
Though the full runway closure was the most disruptive stage of the project, closures will continue on weeknights through December, and on weekends, September through December, to fully complete the rehabilitation project by the end of this year, according to the release.
Two remaining runways, 4R-22L and 11-29, remain available for use throughout the closure periods, pending weather disruptions.
A United plane is parked at the gate at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J., May 7, 2025. (Kena Betancur/AFP)
Duffy noted that while it can be frustrating for air travelers to have their flights delayed or canceled, the DOT’s top priority remains ensuring passenger safety.
“Whether it’s weather, we might have some shortages of air traffic controllers. You know that we had telecom issues in Philadelphia, or in Newark, out of the Philly TRACON. So those factors all come into play. And the key is your safety,” Duffy said.
“A lot of the questions that come though — is it safe to fly? And of course it is. We have so many redundancies in place, but we have to fix the system.”
The transportation secretary then dove into the details of how he predicts departures out of Newark Airport will improve after the runway and other improvements are complete.
“So 28 departures an hour. It used to be 50-54,” he claimed. “So when the runway opens, we’ll get to 34.”
Duffy revealed he has offered retirement-age air traffic controllers special incentives to keep experienced workers on the job and improve efficiency. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.; Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Another issue plaguing Newark Airport, according to Duffy, is the fact that new air traffic controllers from other airspaces can’t simply be brought in to alleviate the shortage. They must first be trained in Newark’s airspace.
Duffy said there are 16 air traffic controllers in training at Newark, and that it typically takes six months to a year to become certified in a new airspace.
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“Again, I can’t just snap my fingers and fix the problems that Pete Buttigieg and Joe Biden left for me,” he said.
After being asked by Doocy about another issue facing the air traffic controller industry – the large numbers of controllers retiring – Duffy laid out his plan for incentivizing retirement-age controllers to stay on the job.
“Air traffic controllers can retire after 25 years of service. I’ve offered them a 20% upfront bonus to stay on after their eligible date of retirement,” he said. “This is a government job where you are paid very well. So, to give them that bonus, I think it matters.”
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Duffy said his goal is to keep experienced controllers while also expanding the pipeline to get more young people into the FAA Academy and working in the industry.
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