Newark airport news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
The FAA issued a ground stop at Newark Liberty International Airport on Monday due to an equipment outage, with departure delays averaging 105 minutes.
The halt, tied to Philadelphia TRACON radio issues.
Background
Newark Liberty International Airport has faced persistent operational and satisfaction challenges. In the 2026 JD Power North America airport satisfaction study, it tied with Chicago O'Hare for last place with 585 points, though this was a 20-point improvement from last year. The airport is undergoing major construction, including a $200 million Terminal B improvement program and a $3.5 billion AirTrain replacement project, but current facilities remain outdated and strained.
How it unfolded
- Sep 18, 2026Newark Liberty tied with Chicago O'Hare for last place in JD Power's 2026 North America airport satisfaction study, scoring 585 points.
- Sep 20, 2026Equipment issues at the New York TRACON radar control facility slowed flights at Newark and LaGuardia, with gate hold and taxi delays of 31 to 45 minutes at Newark.
- Sep 21, 2026The FAA issued a ground stop at Newark Liberty due to an equipment outage, halting departures until at least 11:45 a.m.; outbound delays reached 90 to 105 minutes.
- Sep 21, 2026The FAA also stopped departures at Philadelphia International and Teterboro airports due to issues with some frequencies at Philadelphia TRACON.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- The FAA said it paused flights into Philadelphia, Teterboro, and Newark due to issues with some frequencies at Philadelphia TRACON, and later stated operations returned to normal.
- Analysts
- JD Power's Michael Taylor said Newark and O'Hare have mostly outdated facilities and are on the cusp of major construction projects, adding that better days are coming for New Jersey flyers.
Still unverified
The reason for the air traffic capacity issues in Philadelphia wasn't immediately clear. There was no immediate word on when the equipment issues would be fixed. Few other details were released.