United Celebrates Turnaround at Newark Liberty International and Charts Bright Future

Rhea-AI Summary

United Airlines (NYSE:UAL) celebrated its best operational performance at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), achieving on-time performance metrics surpassing JFK and LGA airports. The airline served over 6 million passengers through Newark this summer, setting a historical record.

United plans to expand its network to over 160 destinations from EWR this fall and winter, adding routes to Rome, Venice, Porto, Marrakesh, and Dublin, among others. The company will hire 2,500 new Newark employees by 2026 and become the first airline to purchase sustainable aviation fuel for EWR operations.

The improvements follow operational challenges in April-May, addressed through FAA interventions including flight limitations to 72 per hour through summer 2026 and infrastructure upgrades. United currently employs 14,000 people in the Newark/NYC area and plans to purchase up to 1 million gallons of sustainable aviation fuel for EWR operations.

Positive

• Record-breaking summer with over 6 million passengers served at EWR
• Expansion to 160+ destinations, including new international routes
• Plans to hire 2,500 new employees by 2026
• First airline to implement sustainable aviation fuel at Newark
• Successful operational turnaround with improved on-time performance
• Connection Saver technology helped 28,000 customers make tight connections

Negative

• Previous operational challenges in April-May due to air traffic control staffing and technology issues
• Reduced flight operations from 86 to 72 per hour through summer 2026 due to FAA limitations

News Market Reaction – UAL

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In the Sep 16 session, UAL declined 0.33%, reflecting a mild negative market reaction.

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Airline celebrates its best operational summer ever at EWR, putting airport on par with JFK and LGA for on-time performance

Plans to serve 160+ destinations from EWR this fall and winter – more than any other airline in the New York City area – adding flights to popular cities like Rome, Venice, Porto, Marrakesh and Dublin

United expects to hire more than 2,500 Newark employees between 2025-2026 and will be the first airline to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use at Newark

NEWARK, N.J., Sept. 16, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- United CEO Scott Kirby was in Newark (EWR) today to celebrate the airline's operational turnaround at EWR and discuss the bright future for the carrier's premier East Coast hub.

This summer, United celebrated its best operational summer ever at EWR, putting the airport on par with JFK and LGA for on-time performance. In fact, United flights out of Newark arrived on-time more often this summer than flights operated by airlines out of JFK or LGA.*

These rankings come as more than six million people flew United on-time through Newark this summer, the most in the airline's history.** In addition, United's Connection Saver technology helped more than 28,000 customers make tight connections in Newark this summer.

Looking ahead to this fall and winter, United plans to serve more than 160 domestic and international destinations from EWR – more than any other airline in the New York City area – adding flights to popular cities like Rome, Venice, Porto, Marrakesh and Dublin. Domestically, the airline will add flights to Orlando and Fort Lauderdale and new cities including Palm Springs, California; Columbia, South Carolina; and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Additionally, United expects to hire more than 2,500 Newark employees between 2025-2026 and will be the first airline to purchase sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for use at Newark.

"Newark is operating better than ever and United's future here is bright – that's a credit to the thousands of Newark employees who deliver for our customers and one another every day," said Kirby. "I want to also thank Secretary Duffy, FAA Administrator Bedford, Governor Murphy and all the national, state and local leaders who helped ensure that Newark remains a safe and reliable crown jewel for millions of domestic and international travelers. As the FAA and DOT implement their plan of increased staffing and improved technology, the reliability and on-time performance of Newark will only get better."

"Millions of passengers each year rely on Newark Airport for their travel needs. Over the past several months, we have worked diligently with our partners at the Port Authority and the FAA to move towards a return to full capacity at Newark Airport, and I am pleased with our progress," said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. "United's continued investment in Newark Airport will serve as a significant economic driver for our region, creating thousands of new jobs for New Jersey communities. I thank United CEO Scott Kirby for his partnership in supporting our region's world-class transportation infrastructure."

In April and May, challenges associated with air traffic control staffing, technology outages and runway construction led to a concentrated number of delays and cancelations out of Newark. But since that time, bookings and customer confidence in flying through Newark have bounced back thanks to efforts by federal officials, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and United employees, including:

• Runway construction was completed two weeks early on June 2
  
  
• Beginning in May, the FAA limited Newark flight operations to 68 per hour. This was down from a high of 86, a number that was well above EWR's maximum theoretical capacity even in ideal operating conditions. The FAA has tentatively limited flights out of Newark to 72 per hour through summer 2026.
  
  
• In July, the FAA installed a new fiber optic network to support the air traffic control system

"We're building a brand new air traffic control system, and we started by addressing the challenges of outdated technology at Newark," said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. "This summer, the FAA took immediate action to relieve substantial inconveniences to the traveling public—deploying a temporary satellite backup system, upgrading fiberoptic technology, expanding high-bandwidth telecommunications, increasing controller staffing, and limiting arrivals and departures. Through strong partnerships with the Port Authority and United, we made significant progress this summer."

United invests more in Newark destinations
As the gateway to the Atlantic, Newark plays a critical role in connecting passengers to United's industry-leading international network.

United's most talked about 2025 destination, Nuuk, Greenland, will return to Newark for summer 2026 following a successful and enthusiastic first season.

• This summer, EWR had more international departures (over 20,000) and more departures to Europe (more than 8,200) than any other United hub
• This summer, all of United's 32 European destinations were served from EWR
• In 2025, United serves 82 international destinations from EWR
• EWR serves the most international destinations unique to United (seven) of any hub
• By the end of 2025, United will have grown its international network in EWR by 12 destinations since 2018, including the six additions this year
• EWR has more widebody departures than any other United hub

United hiring in Newark 
United proudly employs more than 14,000 people in the Newark/New York City area, including more than 3,000 pilots at its pilot base and more than 5,700 flight attendants.

United looks to hire another 2,500 employees before the end of 2026.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel Comes to Newark
United will be the first airline to bring sustainable aviation fuel to Newark, with plans to purchase up to one million gallons from Neste for use at EWR this year. United purchased more than 13 million gallons of SAF in 2024, more than any other U.S. airline.

About United

At United, Good Leads The Way. With U.S. hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates the most comprehensive global route network among North American carriers and is now the largest airline in the world as measured by available seat miles. For more about how to join the United team, please visit www.united.com/careers and more information about the company is at www.united.com. United Airlines Holdings, Inc., the parent company of United Airlines, Inc., is traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol "UAL".

Forward-Looking Statements and Other Important Information

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements that are not statements of historical facts are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on historical performance and current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our future financial results, goals, plans, commitments, strategies and objectives and involve inherent risks, assumptions and uncertainties, known or unknown, including internal or external factors that could delay, divert or change any of them, that are difficult to predict, may be beyond our control and could cause our future financial results, goals, plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the statements. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements in this press release should be evaluated together with the many risks and uncertainties that affect United's business and market, particularly those identified in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and "Risk Factors" sections in United's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as updated by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document and except as otherwise required by applicable law or regulation, United undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or otherwise.

*According to A:14 on-time performance data for arrivals and departures for United and the cumulative DOT reporting carriers at JFK and LGA from masFlight for June 2 – August 31, 2025.
**Based on Jun-Aug periods since 2011 (post-merger years)

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SOURCE United Airlines

FAQ

What improvements has United Airlines made at Newark Airport in 2025?

United achieved its best operational summer at Newark with improved on-time performance surpassing JFK and LGA, served over 6 million passengers, and implemented Connection Saver technology helping 28,000 customers make tight connections.

How many new destinations is United Airlines adding from Newark (EWR)?

United is expanding to serve over 160 destinations from Newark, adding new routes to Rome, Venice, Porto, Marrakesh, Dublin, and domestic destinations including Palm Springs, Columbia, and Chattanooga.

How many jobs is United Airlines creating at Newark Airport?

United Airlines plans to hire more than 2,500 new employees at Newark between 2025-2026, adding to its current workforce of 14,000 people in the Newark/NYC area.

What is United Airlines' sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plan for Newark?

United will be the first airline to bring SAF to Newark, planning to purchase up to 1 million gallons from Neste for use at EWR this year, following their purchase of 13 million gallons of SAF in 2024.

How has United Airlines addressed operational challenges at Newark Airport?

United worked with the FAA and Port Authority to implement improvements including new fiber optic networks, increased controller staffing, and flight operations limitations to 72 per hour through summer 2026.