Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) has emerged as the leader among major Northeast airports for on-time flights in 2026, a significant turnaround from its performance a year ago. United Airlines, the airport's largest carrier, reported its best-ever on-time rate at Newark in April and May, successfully flying nearly 5.8 million passengers.
This improvement follows a period last spring when EWR experienced substantial delays and cancellations due to FAA radar and radio outages, Air Traffic Control staffing shortages, and ongoing runway construction. U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) intervened, implementing measures such as improved staffing, technology upgrades, and flight limitations to align schedules with the airport's actual capacity. United CEO Scott Kirby celebrated the achievement, stating, "Newark has operated better than it ever has and that's a direct result of the actions taken by Secretary Duffy and the FAA as well as the professionalism, dedication and care of our nearly 15,000 local employees."
United kicked off the summer strong, transporting a record three million passengers across its network over the Memorial Day holiday, with nearly 70% arriving on time. The airline anticipates serving over 53 million travelers this summer and continues to invest in customer experience through onboard products and services, including Starlink Wi-Fi installation across its regional fleet, Bluetooth audio-enabled seatback screens, and larger overhead bins.
Newark serves as a crucial global gateway for United, connecting customers to nearly 320 cities, including 42 transatlantic destinations. The airline is expanding its international offerings with new service to destinations like Split, Croatia, and will become the only U.S. airline offering nonstop flights between Newark/New York and Seoul, South Korea, starting September 4.