U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy has announced the completion of a significant milestone in operations at Newark Liberty Airport. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has successfully transitioned to a new fiber optic communications network between New York and the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON). This upgrade is part of the agency's ongoing efforts to improve reliability and enhance air traffic control systems.
The newly installed fiber optic connections provide enhanced resiliency with two separate communication paths, ensuring continuous operation even if one path is disrupted. "This marks a critical milestone in our unprecedented effort to make flying safer and more efficient," said Secretary Duffy. He criticized the previous administration for neglecting issues at Newark and emphasized his commitment to delivering improvements.
Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau stated, "The work we’ve accomplished will help reduce delays and cancellations." He noted that the upgrade was completed as planned, with further initiatives underway to strengthen Newark's communications network.
In May, Secretary Duffy outlined several FAA workstreams aimed at improving reliability at Newark Liberty Airport. These include establishing a STARS hub at Philadelphia TRACON by summer's end, which will allow controllers to use local radar data instead of relying on feeds from New York. Additionally, controller staffing in the area is being increased, with 22 fully certified controllers and five supervisors currently on duty, along with 25 trainees.
A temporary satellite system has been deployed to provide redundancy during network upgrades. The FAA also announced limits on arrival and departure rates at Newark through October 25, 2025, due to infrastructure updates affecting runway operations on weekends later this year.
