Newark Liberty International Airport has recorded the highest number of on-time flights among major airports in the northeastern United States so far in 2026, marking a major turnaround after operational disruptions last year.
United Airlines, the airport’s largest carrier, said it achieved its best-ever on-time performance at Newark during April and May while carrying nearly 5.8 million passengers through the hub. The airline expects more than 53 million travelers across its network this summer as demand for international and leisure travel continues to rise.
Last spring, Newark faced widespread delays and cancellations caused by FAA radar and radio outages, air traffic control staffing shortages and runway construction work. The Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Department of Transportation later introduced measures including staffing improvements, technology upgrades and flight limits designed to match schedules with airport capacity.
Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, visited Newark this week to mark the airport’s operational recovery and thank local staff.
“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,” said Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines.
Kirby described Newark as the “crown jewel” of the airline’s international network, adding that the carrier is focused on delivering reliable travel experiences during the busy summer season.
United Airlines said Newark now connects passengers to nearly 320 cities across North, South and Central America and the Caribbean, including 120 destinations reachable with one stop. The airport also offers nonstop flights to 42 destinations across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and India.
The airline recently launched new routes from Newark to Split in Croatia, Bari in Italy, Glasgow in Scotland and Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Beginning September 4, United will also become the only U.S. airline offering nonstop flights between Newark and Seoul, South Korea.
In October, the carrier plans to launch flights between Newark and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, becoming the only airline in the New York area serving the Caribbean destination.
The airline said it is continuing to invest in onboard technology and customer services ahead of the summer travel season. More than 25% of United’s average daily flights now feature Starlink Wi-Fi on regional aircraft, with wider fleet installation continuing through 2027.
United Airlines also said more than 800 aircraft now offer Bluetooth-enabled seatback entertainment systems with access to more than 2,200 hours of movies, television programming, music and podcasts.
The carrier added that passengers using the United mobile app can access live boarding updates, real-time baggage tracking, estimated TSA wait times and navigation tools for connecting flights.
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