Newark Airport Sees 10% Drop in Memorial Day Travelers Despite Normal Operations

Key Takeaways

• Newark Liberty bookings fell nearly 10% over Memorial Day 2025 amid FAA flight caps and delays.
• The FAA capped Newark flights at 28 arrivals and 28 departures per hour due to construction, staffing.
• More than 380 flights delayed May 24; average delay was 35 minutes during Memorial Day weekend.

Newark Liberty International Airport Faces Nearly 10% Drop in Memorial Day Travelers Amid FAA Flight Caps and Ongoing Delays

Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How

Over Memorial Day weekend 2025, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) saw a sharp drop in traveler bookings—down almost 10% compared to the previous year. This decline stands out because, across the United States 🇺🇸, airports experienced record-breaking travel numbers. The main reasons for Newark’s drop include new flight caps set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), ongoing runway construction, and a shortage of air traffic controllers. Even though the airport did not shut down or declare any emergencies, travelers still faced long delays and frequent cancellations.

This situation has affected not only passengers but also airlines, airport workers, and local businesses. As reported by VisaVerge.com, Newark’s struggles have led many travelers to choose other New York-area airports, such as JFK and LaGuardia, both of which saw big increases in bookings over the same period.

Let’s break down what happened, why it matters, and what travelers, airlines, and the region can expect in the coming months.

Memorial Day 2025: A Closer Look at the Numbers

Memorial Day weekend, from May 22 to May 26, is always one of the busiest travel periods in the United States 🇺🇸. In 2025, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey expected nearly 2.1 million passengers to pass through its four main airports: JFK, Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia, and New York-Stewart. Nationally, AAA estimated that 46 million Americans traveled for the holiday, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) screening about 18 million passengers.

But Newark Liberty International Airport stood out for the wrong reasons. While JFK saw bookings jump by over 20% and LaGuardia by more than 7%, Newark’s bookings dropped by almost 10%. According to industry data from Cirium, this made Newark the only major New York-area airport to see a decline in bookings for Memorial Day 2025.

Key Data for Newark Liberty International Airport (Memorial Day 2025):

• Year-over-year booking change: –9.97%
• Flight caps (May 20–June 15): 28 arrivals and 28 departures per hour (total 54 flights/hour)
• Delays (Saturday, May 24): Over 380 flights delayed, with average delays of about 35 minutes
• Total NY-area airport travelers: About 2.1 million
• National Memorial Day travelers: 46 million (AAA estimate)

FAA Flight Caps: What They Mean and Why They Matter

On May 20, 2025, the FAA put new limits on how many flights could arrive and depart from Newark Liberty International Airport each hour. Before this order, Newark could handle up to 77 arrivals and departures per hour. The new cap—set at 28 arrivals and 28 departures per hour—was a big reduction.

Why did the FAA do this?
The main reasons were:

• Ongoing runway construction: Daily work on Runway 4-Left/22-Right made it harder to keep flights on schedule.
• Air traffic controller shortages: A major outage in late April left several controllers on trauma leave, making staffing problems worse.
• Recent equipment failures: These added to the delays and made it harder to keep flights moving smoothly.

FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau explained, “Our goal is to relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public from excessive flight delays due to construction, staffing challenges, and recent equipment issues, which magnify as they spread through the National Airspace System.”

The FAA plans to review these flight caps regularly. If things improve—such as construction finishing on time and more controllers being hired—the cap could increase to 34 arrivals and 34 departures per hour after June 15, 2025. These limits are expected to stay in place until at least October 25, 2025, but the FAA may adjust them as needed.

For more details on the FAA’s actions and updates, you can visit the FAA’s official Newark Liberty International Airport updates page.

How Travelers Were Affected: Delays, Cancellations, and Frustration

Despite the drop in bookings, Newark Liberty International Airport did not close or declare any emergencies during Memorial Day weekend. However, delays and cancellations were common, especially on Saturday, May 24, when more than 380 flights were delayed—second only to Denver in the entire country. The average delay was about 35 minutes.

What did this mean for travelers?

• Longer wait times: Many people arrived at the airport three to four hours before their flights, hoping to avoid missing their planes.
• Uncertainty: With so many delays and cancellations, travelers often had to rebook flights or go on standby.
• Stress and anxiety: The fear of missing flights or being stranded led to a lot of frustration. Some travelers reported having to make last-minute changes or even switch to other airports.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey worked with airlines to keep passengers informed and manage expectations. Still, the negative public perception of Newark as an unreliable hub grew stronger.

Impact on Airlines and the Local Economy

Airlines, especially United Airlines, which has a major presence at Newark Liberty International Airport, faced tough choices. They had to:

• Reduce flight schedules: With fewer slots available, airlines cut back on the number of flights.
• Move flights to other airports: Some flights were shifted to JFK or LaGuardia to avoid the worst delays.
• Handle more customer service issues: With more delays and cancellations, airlines had to help more passengers rebook or find other options.

These changes also affected airport vendors, ground transportation companies, and local businesses that rely on airport traffic. Fewer travelers meant less spending at shops, restaurants, and hotels near the airport.

Why Did Newark Struggle More Than Other Airports?

Several factors combined to make Newark Liberty International Airport’s situation worse than other airports in the region:

1. Runway Construction: The ongoing work on a key runway limited how many flights could take off and land, creating a bottleneck.
2. Controller Shortages: The air traffic control center at Newark suffered a major outage in late April, and several controllers went on trauma leave. This made existing staffing problems even worse.
3. Aging Technology: Outdated equipment led to more delays and made it harder to recover from problems quickly.
4. Negative Public Perception: After months of delays and cancellations, travelers lost confidence in Newark as a reliable airport.

Aviation analysts say that these problems feed off each other. When one thing goes wrong, it can quickly lead to more delays and cancellations, which then spread to other airports and flights.

What Should Travelers Do? Practical Steps for Dealing with Delays

If you’re planning to fly through Newark Liberty International Airport in the coming months, here are some steps you can take to reduce stress and avoid problems:

1. Arrive Early: Get to the airport at least three to four hours before your flight, especially during busy periods like holidays.
2. Check Your Flight Status: Use your airline’s app or the airport’s website to get real-time updates on delays or cancellations.
3. Have a Backup Plan: Be ready to rebook your flight or go on standby if needed. Know your airline’s policies for rebooking and compensation.
4. Contact Your Airline Directly: If your flight is delayed or canceled, reach out to your airline’s customer service for help.
5. Consider Other Airports: If possible, look at flights from JFK or LaGuardia, which have seen fewer problems.

These steps can help you avoid the worst delays and make your trip smoother.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Travelers, Airlines, Port Authority, and FAA

Travelers:
Most travelers reported feeling frustrated and anxious about the uncertainty at Newark Liberty International Airport. Many arrived much earlier than usual, only to face long lines and last-minute changes. Some had to rebook flights or even switch airports to reach their destinations.

Airlines:
Airlines faced higher costs due to rebooking, customer service demands, and moving flights to other airports. Their reputation also took a hit, as passengers blamed them for delays—even though many problems were outside their control.

Port Authority:
The Port Authority focused on keeping the public informed and supporting ongoing construction projects. They worked closely with airlines to manage passenger flow and provide updates.

FAA:
The FAA’s main goal was to keep flights safe and reduce delays. By capping the number of flights, they hoped to prevent problems from spreading to other airports and flights across the country.

Background: How Did We Get Here?

The problems at Newark Liberty International Airport did not happen overnight. Here’s a quick timeline of key events:

• April 28, 2025: A major outage at Newark’s air traffic control facility led to several controllers taking trauma leave, making staffing shortages worse.
• Spring 2025: Ongoing runway construction and repeated technology failures caused persistent delays and cancellations.
• May 20, 2025: The FAA issued an interim order to cap flights at Newark, effective immediately.
• May 22–26, 2025: Memorial Day weekend became the first big test of these new limits, with Newark seeing a sharp drop in bookings and continued delays.

Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Newark Liberty International Airport?

There is hope that things will get better in the coming months:

• June 15, 2025: Daily runway construction is scheduled to end, which could allow the FAA to raise the flight cap to 34 arrivals and departures per hour.
• October 25, 2025: The current flight caps are set to remain in place until at least this date, but the FAA may adjust them based on how things go.
• Long-term improvements: The FAA and Port Authority are investing in new technology, such as fiberoptic networks and backup systems, to prevent future outages. They are also hiring more air traffic controllers, with training classes filled through July 2026.

Restoring public trust and making Newark a reliable airport again will take time. The key will be finishing construction, hiring enough controllers, and upgrading technology.

Summary Table: Key Memorial Day 2025 Data for Newark Liberty International Airport

Official Resources for Travelers

If you need the latest updates or want to check your flight status, here are some helpful links:

• Port Authority of New York and New Jersey
• FAA Newark Liberty International Airport Updates
• Newark Liberty International Airport
• FlightAware (for real-time flight status)

Conclusion: The Road to Recovery

Newark Liberty International Airport’s Memorial Day 2025 was marked by a nearly 10% drop in traveler bookings, ongoing delays, and strict FAA-imposed flight caps. While the airport managed to avoid emergency shutdowns, the problems with delays and cancellations continued to hurt its reputation. The situation is expected to improve as construction wraps up and more air traffic controllers are hired, but full recovery will depend on restoring reliability and passenger confidence.

For now, travelers should plan ahead, stay informed, and consider all their options when flying through Newark Liberty International Airport. Airlines and airport officials are working hard to fix the problems, but it will take time to rebuild trust and return to normal operations.

Learn Today

FAA → Federal Aviation Administration, U.S. agency regulating air traffic and safety nationwide.
Flight Caps → Hourly limits on arriving and departing flights set to reduce congestion and delays.
Air Traffic Controllers → Professionals managing aircraft movements to ensure safe and efficient air traffic flow.
Runway Construction → Maintenance or upgrades on airport runways affecting flight schedules and capacity.
Delays → Extended waiting times for flights caused by operational, staffing, or infrastructure issues.

This Article in a Nutshell

Memorial Day 2025 saw Newark Liberty Airport’s traveler bookings drop almost 10%, driven by FAA-imposed flight caps, runway construction, and staffing shortages causing widespread delays and cancellations.
— By VisaVerge.com