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By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Federal Aviation Administration said on Tuesday it would require flight cuts at Newark, one of the main airports serving New York City, after it met with U.S. airlines to address congestion issues following a series of major disruptions.
New Jersey’s Newark Liberty International Airport, located about 9 miles (14.5 km) from Manhattan, has been dealing with a chaotic series of equipment outages, runway construction and air traffic control staffing issues for weeks.
The FAA interim order did not specify which flights were being cut but said it requires three to seven flight reductions per hour based on the time of day over what was approved last autumn.
The FAA said the action would "relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public caused by excessive flight delays at the airport."
Newark has in recent weeks often suffered delays of five or more hours and dozens of daily canceled or delayed flights.
The FAA could add or reduce flights if it determines capacity exists to accommodate more flights without a significant increase in delays, or if further flight reductions are needed.
Newark is a major hub for United Airlines, which operates nearly 70% of the airport’s flights. United has sharply cut flights at the airport and said this month it wanted the FAA to impose new limitations to address ongoing delays.
United declined to comment on Tuesday.
The FAA said it held three days of one-on-one meetings with airlines last week "to find a balance between reducing their operations at the airport and meeting the needs of each individual airline."
American Airlines (NASDAQ:AAL) said it had "committed to doing our part to support more efficient operations" and raised air traffic staffing in other places that "demonstrated the urgent need to staff up."
Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) said it was committed to working to find a solution to address Newark’s challenges.
The FAA informed airlines Monday of some additional required flight cuts but the order did not specify which would be affected.
The FAA order allows a maximum arrival rate at Newark of 28 aircraft per hour and departure rate of 28 per hour until runway construction is largely complete by June 15. The maximum arrival and departure rates will then rise to 34 aircraft per hour until October 25.
The FAA will limit flights to 28 per hour on Saturdays through the end of the year because runway construction will continue on Saturdays after June 15.
Under normal circumstances, Newark could handle 77 total flights per hour, the FAA said.
The meetings included United, Delta, JetBlue Airways (NASDAQ:JBLU), American, Alaska Airlines, Spirit Airlines (OTC:SAVEQ) and Allegiant Air
The FAA last year relocated control of Newark’s airspace to Philadelphia to address staffing and congested New York City-area traffic and the facility has faced numerous technology issues.
Nationwide, the FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers below targeted staffing levels. The area overseeing Newark has a targeted staffing level of 38 certified controllers, but currently has just 24 in place.