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Travelers using Newark Liberty International Airport may soon experience smoother journeys thanks to an impending upgrade, as announced by U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Monday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in collaboration with Verizon, has swiftly installed new network fiber optic cables between Long Island and the air traffic control center in Philadelphia over the past month. This upgrade, expected to be operational by July, aims to alleviate the chronic delays at Newark by modernizing the communication infrastructure.

The new fiber optic connections are set to replace outdated copper cables that have been responsible for multiple radar system outages in Newark. The airspace around Newark is currently managed from Philadelphia after being transferred from the FAA's control center in Westbury, N.Y., last year. These critical outages, occurring at least three times between April and May, caused significant disruptions, with air traffic controllers losing radar visibility for nearly 90 seconds on two occasions.

The outages induced severe stress among air traffic controllers, leading to six of them taking trauma leave and consequently causing staff shortages. This shortage contributed to at least one ground stop last month, exacerbating the already significant flight delays and cancellations. The recent disruptions have sparked national concern over the state of the country's air traffic control systems.

Addressing these issues, Duffy expressed confidence that the new fiber optic connections would prevent future radar system failures in Philadelphia. While the new system is still undergoing rigorous testing by the FAA, Duffy emphasized that the upgrades are progressing rapidly. Additionally, efforts are underway to replace other outdated copper lines within the region as part of a broader initiative by the Trump administration to modernize national air traffic control equipment.

Duffy's visit to Newark also marked the early reopening of an airport runway that had been under construction since April, further straining the airport's capacity and compounding delays. During this period, the number of hourly flights was reduced from 77 to 56 to manage the combined impact of technology and staffing issues. With the runway back in service, the FAA plans to increase the hourly flight cap to 68 next week, aiming to return to regular operations by October 25.

In a move to support the nationwide upgrade of FAA infrastructure, the House passed a budget bill last week, backed by President Donald Trump, which allocates $12 billion over three years. This funding, however, still awaits Senate approval. Highlighting the urgency of these upgrades, Duffy compared the situation to driving a malfunctioning car, stressing the need for prompt action to address the problems plaguing America’s air traffic control systems.