United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby on Monday said Newark Liberty International Airport is now operating “better than ever,” after turmoil at the New Jersey airport brought air traffic control shortages back into the spotlight.
“Newark is operating better than ever and United’s future here is bright — that’s a credit to the thousands of Newark employees who deliver for our customers and one another every day,” Kirby said Monday in a press release.
“I want to also thank [Transportation] Secretary [Sean] Duffy, [Federal Aviation Administration] Administrator [Bryan] Bedford, Governor [Phil] Murphy and all the national, state and local leaders who helped ensure that Newark remains a safe and reliable crown jewel for millions of domestic and international travelers,” he added.
In June, the Trump administration announced it would limit the amount of arrivals and departures until the end of the year at Newark, after a slew of outages and staffing shortages earlier this year led to a flurry of delays and cancellations.
“Millions of passengers each year rely on Newark Airport for their travel needs. Over the past several months, we have worked diligently with our partners at the Port Authority and the FAA to move towards a return to full capacity at Newark Airport, and I am pleased with our progress,” Murphy (D) said in the release.
An uptick in aviation accidents, including a crash between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight near Reagan Washington National Airport in January that killed 67 people, has also raised fresh questions about aviation safety and issues caused by outdated technology.
Duffy announced earlier this year plans to exacerbate recruitment and retention for air traffic controllers and investments into modernized technology.
