The FAA reported that while departures from Newark continued, inbound flights were halted for an average of 158 minutes as air traffic operations gradually resumed.
The outage is the latest in a series of technical issues affecting the airport, which manages one of the nation’s busiest airspaces.
As part of the announcement, the FAA and Department of Transportation stated that they are seeking a Prime Integrator to build a new air traffic control system, with proposals due by Sept. 21. The agency fast-tracked the procurement, aiming to complete the system within three to four years.
“This is the next important step to making our skies safer and air travel more efficient. To avoid the missed deadlines and mistakes of the past, we’ve designed an innovative process to select and contract with one Prime Integrator,” Duffy said. “The bottom line: we are working at the speed of Trump, and we will not let government bureaucracy get in the way of results.”
“Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill, we have the down payment to start building a new system. The next step is getting the integrator on board, and we are on track,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. “We are ready to get to work to make sure our controllers have the very best technology.”
Duffy first announced the plan in May to build a new air traffic control system by 2028.
The FAA and Department of Transportation stated that a brand new air traffic control system "will enhance safety in the sky, reduce delays, and unlock the future of air travel," adding that "the plan to build a new system also ensures hard-working air traffic controllers have a system they can rely on and one they deserve."
"The FAA will replace core infrastructure including radar, software, hardware and telecommunications networks to support modern air travel," the press release stated. "The agency will equip facilities with better technology to reduce outages, improve efficiency, and reinforce safety."