During the first half of 2026, Newark Liberty International was the top major northeast airport for on-time flights.
“Newark has operated better than it ever has and that’s a direct result of the actions taken by (transportation) Secretary (Sean) Duffy and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) as well as the professionalism, dedication and care of our nearly 15,000 local employees,” United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said. “Newark is the ‘crown jewel’ of our international network serving as a global gateway to dozens of international destinations – I’m proud of the work we’re doing here, and all across the country, to deliver a great experience and get our customers where they want to go safely and on time.”
The airport experienced FAA radar and radio outages, air traffic control staffing shortages and runway construction in spring 2025 that produced significant delays, diversions and cancellations. The FAA improved staffing, upgraded technology and limited flights to ensure that schedules matched the airport’s capacity.
In April and May, United Airlines, the airport’s largest carrier, flew nearly 5.8 million passengers and achieved its best-ever on-time rate. Over the Memorial Day holiday, the airline flew a record 3 million passengers across its network with nearly 70 percent of customers arriving on time.