NEW JERSEY— United Airlines (UAL) is embarking on a major operational upgrade at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to improve reliability, expand global reach, and boost local employment by hiring more than 2,500 new employees by the end of 2026.
The news follows a difficult spring for EWR when outdated equipment, shortages of ATCs, and technology failures led to flight delays and cancellations. In response, United, federal authorities, and state officials have worked together to restore service performance and enhance capacity.
Photo: Samir Nadori | United AirlinesUnited Newark Airport Upgrade
Earlier this year, Newark suffered serious disruptions due to technology outages, air traffic control staffing gaps, and runway construction.
Since then, improvements such as completion of runway work ahead of schedule, installation of a new fiber-optic network, and limits on hourly flight operations have helped United restore service levels.
According to islands.com, United will add over 2,500 employees at EWR between now and late 2026 to meet rising operational demands. The carrier already employs more than 14,000 people in the Newark/New York City region, including over 3,000 pilots and 5,700 flight attendants.
Over the summer, United recorded its best on-time performance ever at EWR. More than 6 million passengers flew on United-operated flights on schedule — exceeding comparable metrics at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA).
Photo: jpellgen | FlickrUnited’s Route Expansions
Moving forward, United plans to serve over 160 domestic and international destinations from Newark.
New international routes include Rome, Venice, Porto, Marrakesh, and Dublin. Domestically, the new service will go to cities such as Palm Springs, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Columbia (South Carolina), and Chattanooga (Tennessee).
United will also become the first major airline to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use at Newark, acquiring up to one million gallons from Neste this year. SAF reduces lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions relative to fossil jet fuel.
State and local leaders have praised the partnership between EWR and United, as it will help the economy of the region. Governor Phil Murphy and other officials noted that Newark functions as a vital international gateway and its smooth operation is essential to commerce and tourism.
Photo: Samir Nadori | United AirlinesBottom Line
Despite improvements, constraints remain. In May, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reduced the number of flights per hour at Newark from 86 to 68 due to safety and operational concerns. That limit has since been tentatively adjusted to 72 flights per hour through summer 2026.
The updates to air traffic control systems, staff increases, and technology upgrades must continue on schedule to avoid recurrence of disruptions.
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