FAA adjusts slot rules amid Newark runway closure

Newark Liberty is among the busiest airports in the US and is classified as a Level 2 airport under the Worldwide Slot Guidelines. From 2024 to 2026, it will undergo multiple stages of airside construction projects impacting its capacity. Specifically, Runway 4L-22R will face closures from March 1 to April 14, 2025, on weekends and continuously from April 15 until June 15 for rehabilitation work.

The FAA does not allocate slots or impose minimum usage requirements at Newark but relies on voluntary agreements with carriers to manage congestion. Similar facilitation processes are used at other Level 2 airports like Chicago O’Hare, Los Angeles International, and San Francisco International.

At Reagan National Airport, slots must be used at least 80% of the time over two months unless waived due to unusual conditions beyond an airline's control for nine consecutive days.

Newark’s current scheduling limit is set at 77 operations per hour. The anticipated runway closures are expected to impact on-time performance significantly. The FAA forecasts congestion and delays affecting operations across all five involved airports.

To mitigate disruptions, airlines are requested not to exceed specific arrival and departure limits during peak hours. For arrivals: no more than 35 per hour from 6:00 am to 2:00 pm and up to 31 per hour thereafter; for departures: no more than 35 per hour from early morning until late afternoon with similar restrictions later in the day.

A conditional waiver extends minimum usage requirements relief at DCA for services involving Newark, alongside similar measures for ORD, LAX, and SFO routes connected with Newark.