US extends flight limits at New York area airports

WASHINGTON — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Thursday it will extend flight limits at three major New York City-area airports, as air traffic control constraints continue to strain congestion management efforts.

The FAA said the restrictions at Newark Liberty International Airport will now remain in place through summer 2027, while limits at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport have been extended through late October 2028. The agency is also extending temporary relief from minimum flight usage requirements at JFK, LaGuardia, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport through late 2027.

According to the FAA, runway capacity at LaGuardia remains constrained while demand for slots continues to outpace availability. At JFK, officials warned that severe congestion-related delays could persist, with ripple effects across the broader U.S. aviation network if flight limits are not maintained.

In May 2025, the FAA imposed significant flight reductions at Newark following major operational disruptions involving United Airlines that led to widespread delays and cancellations. Those cuts are now set to remain in effect through October 2027. The agency also said air traffic control staffing shortages at Newark are not expected to improve significantly before that time.

Under existing rules, airlines risk losing valuable takeoff and landing slots at congested airports if they fail to use them at least 80% of the time. The FAA’s current waiver allows carriers to operate up to 10% fewer flights than normally required, a policy the agency has repeatedly extended in response to ongoing staffing and capacity challenges.

The FAA reported that staffing at the New York Area Terminal Radar Approach facility remains at just 57% of targeted levels. The shortage has contributed to chronic delays and has forced controllers to work mandatory overtime and six-day workweeks at many facilities.

A recent National Academies of Sciences report found that overtime costs for air traffic controllers have increased by more than 300% since 2013, exceeding $200 million, citing workforce imbalances and inefficient scheduling practices.

Last month, the FAA also revised its long-term staffing targets downward, reducing its goal for certified air traffic controllers from 14,633 to 12,563, as part of a broader effort to modernize scheduling and increase operational efficiency. -Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Stephen Coates/Reuters