FAA proposes extending Newark airport flight cuts through October 2026
In May, the FAA ordered flight cuts at Newark through the end of 2025 following a series of major disruptions at the United Airlines hub that snarled hundreds of flights and sparked alarm about the aging U.S. air traffic control system.
The FAA said on Friday the goal of the reduced flight rates is to 'continue maintaining safety while alleviating flight delays due to staffing and equipment challenges, resulting in smoother travel into and out of Newark.'
Last month, the Transportation Department Office of Inspector General said it would investigate the FAA's 2024 decision to relocate some Newark air traffic controllers to Philadelphia from New York to address staffing shortages and congested New York City-area airspace. The review came after two serious communications outages for air traffic controllers overseeing Newark's airspace in April and May.
The FAA required 17 air traffic controllers to move from New York Terminal Radar Approach Control, known as N90, to Philadelphia in late July last year. New York TRACON is one of the busiest U.S. facilities. The FAA said 'persistent low staffing levels and low training success rate' at N90 were among the reasons to move control of the Newark airspace in a bid to boost staffing levels and help ease congestion.
In July, the FAA extended cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City airports through October 2026.
The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels. A series of near-miss incidents has raised safety concerns in recent years, while the persistent staffing shortage has delayed flights and forced controllers at many facilities to work mandatory overtime and six-day weeks.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
UPI
3 minutes ago
- UPI
Clear Secure adds Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand travelers
1 of 5 | Travelers from Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can now enroll in Clear Secure, the American tech firm that allows people to pay for expedited clearance at U.S. airports, the company confirmed Friday. File Photo by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Travelers from Britain, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can now enroll in Clear Secure, the American tech firm that allows people to pay for expedited clearance at U.S. airports, the company confirmed Friday. Passengers from the four countries can now enroll in the company's CLEAR+ program, allowing them to quickly get through security lines for a yearly fee. The New York City-based tech firm currently uses its biometric travel document verification systems at 59 airports across the United States, allowing clients to save time going through security checkpoints. The company currently charges $209 for a yearly subscription. "From the beginning, CLEAR's vision has been to make travel safer, easier, and more predictable-using the power of identity," Clear Secure CEO Caryn Seidman Becker said in a statement on the company's website. "By enabling highly vetted travelers from the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand to enroll in CLEAR+, we're expanding that vision to more people around the world. Whether you're flying for business or reuniting with family, you should be able to move through the airport with confidence and peace of mind." The company said additional "Visa Waiver countries" will become eligible to subscribe later this year. The program is not related to the PreCheck option offered by the Transportation Safety Administration, which is only open to U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents. Initially opened in 2025, NEXUS is another separate program allowing travelers to pay for expedited cross-border travel between the United States and Canada. Earlier this week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection launched a streamlined security system for international travelers, at Los Angeles International Airport to reduce wait times from incoming international flights. Clear Secure stock climbed to start the trading day but was in the red by late morning, down $0.65 or 1.91%, trading at $33.15 at 10:49 EDT Friday.
%3Amax_bytes(150000)%3Astrip_icc()%2FTAL-small-towns-mobile-and-recirc-banner-HEROABST25-c2966dc503604e3ca4fe82286592a0f7.gif&w=3840&q=100)
Travel + Leisure
2 hours ago
- Travel + Leisure
America's Best Small Towns of 2025
Like apple pie and ice cream, what's more American than a small town? Sure, there's no doubt big cities have their draws: the electric buzz of New York City, the palm tree-lined streets of Los Angeles, and the glittering sunshine of Miami. But with their slower pace of life and wistful air of nostalgia, there's just something about small towns. And let's be honest—there are some misconceptions about these gems scattered across the country. Small towns certainly don't have less to offer than their more populous siblings. You don't need to book a plane ticket to your nearest major city to see a brilliant modern art exhibit or to stock up on the latest fashions. In fact, you can do it all while enjoying a sandy beach day by the sea, a soak in historic hot springs, or a quick adventure on the lake. This year, the Travel + Leisure team rounded up 10 of the most exciting small towns across the U.S. and divided them into categories to best suit your next getaway. We hope these small towns inspire you to hit the road and explore the little places on the map that help make our country the special place it is. A lifeguard on the beach in Asbury Park. Alessandra Amodio/Travel + Leisure Bruce Springsteen's album "Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J." put the town on the global music map in 1973, and for years, only die-hard music fans made the trip to Asbury Park in hopes of scoring tickets to shows at legendary venues like the Stone Pony. But in the early aughts, the LGBTQ+ community invested heavily in the town, restoring its Victorian colonial homes. 'Their investments in real estate and business start ups helped fuel the rebirth which we see exploding today,' says Deb Masco, an employee at the Asbury Ocean Club hotel. The historic boardwalk has been completely reimagined and rivals the coolest street in Brooklyn. 'The diversity is incredible,' says Clinch. 'You can walk down the boardwalk and see gay, straight, black, white, tattooed, conservative, you name it, types of people,' he says. The diverse community has fostered creativity that extends beyond music, to the arts, food, and design scenes. 'There's a raw, creative energy that's hard to describe unless you've spent time here,' says Shauna Lagala, complex hotel manager at the Asbury Collection. 'It's weird in the best way—a mix of old-school Jersey, artists, punks, surfers, and people who just don't want to live anywhere typical. It's the kind of town where you can grab a cold brew at a café run by someone in a band, then walk five minutes and end up in a tattoo shop or an art gallery.' Boone, North Carolina. Sean Pavone/iStockphoto/Getty Images Rising from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, Boone, North Carolina, hums with a renewed spirit. The North Carolina town in the Blue Ridge Mountains is home to several buzzy boutique hotels; the Horton Hotel will unveil eight brand-new luxury suites this fall, and the 1850 Hotel opened its doors in March 2025 right on historic King Street. In 2023, Rhode's Motor Lodge awakened from its kitschy slumber, its mid-century charm restored. And Boone's culinary landscape blossoms with bold flavors and unexpected pairings, from rising Asian eateries like The Happy Persimmon and CoBo Sushi Bistro to local vineyards coaxing crisp bubbles from mountain grapes. Long summer days invite you to chase sun-dappled hiking trails, while autumn ignites the mountains in fiery reds and golds, the air rich with the scent of woodsmoke and earth. 'I love the size of it,' says Andy Long, chef and co-owner of Over Yonder, 'small enough to know your neighbors, big enough to have a vibrant dining and music scene. When you talk to people here, it feels like you've known them forever.' From immersive new exhibitions like Jack Boul: Land, City, Home at The Blowing Rock Art & History Museum to events like the iconic Tweetsie Railroad's Heritage Weekend in August, this year offers rich new ways to explore Boone's fusion of historic charm, modern creativity, and deep-rooted traditions that garnered it the moniker, 'Heart of the High Country.' Sailboats on Lake McConaughy, near Ogallala, Nebraska. CJ Carter/Keith County Tourism 'Not Your Ordinary Town!' boasts a mural on East 1st and North Spruce, marking the entrance into downtown Ogallala, Nebraska. They're right: despite a population of 5,107 spread over barely five square miles, the 'Cowboy Capital of Nebraska' is brimming with history, culture, and Western flair. The town, which derives its name from the Oglala Sioux tribe, was originally a cattle drive stop along the Union Pacific Railroad. Today, it's a charming destination just minutes from not one, but two lakes. At Lake McConaughy—affectionately known to locals as 'Big Mac'—you'll find over 100 miles of soft white sand and clear waters that attract fishers, kayakers, and scuba divers. McConaughy's little sister to the east, Lake Ogallala, may not be as impressive in size, but its sedate, wind-protected waters and winter eagle-viewing facility have their own unique draw. As Ogallala continues to flourish, the town has big plans for the future: Lake Mac Casino Resort, a casino complex that includes a horse racetrack, 180-room hotel, and event space, is expected to complete construction as soon as 2027, with a temporary casino slated to open in the meantime. A colorful mailbox at Salvation Mountain. Chelsea Loren/Travel + Leisure El Centro is the type of town that takes you by surprise. You might expect to pass right through—only to end up spending the better part of an afternoon discovering awesome indie boutiques, stellar tacos, and a warm, creative community. Just over two hours east of San Diego and 15 miles north of the Mexican border town of Mexicali, El Centro has both grit and charm. 'Five cars is considered traffic in El Centro,' jokes Mark Silva, owner of the new Gateway Gallery in nearby Ocotillo. 'The town constantly seems to be on the verge of emerging.' The region's first hotels have popped up in the past year, including an Insta-worthy hot springs hotel midway between San Diego and El Centro, and a handful of makers and chefs are setting up shop in town. The annual Bombay Beach Biennale, a word-of-mouth gathering of creatives, will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year, and a shocking amount of musicians come through this remote desert area. This desert town's gems don't jump out. You need to be looking to discover the cool vintage and vinyl stores, craft beer bars, and artisanal coffee spots. It's fresh off its first-ever restaurant week and given its proximity to the border, the Mexican food is sensational. Plus, hot springs, hiking trails, and funky public art installations are all just a drive away. A gorgeous side view of All Saints Chapel in Sewanee, Tennessee.'Sewanee looks like a sleepy college town lost in the Tennessee woods, but there is something unusual happening [here] just about every day and throughout the year,' says Woody Register, professor of history and director of the Roberson Project on Slavery, Race, and Reconciliation at the University of the South. 'Throughout its 170-year history, Sewanee has been very much entangled in the hopes, dreams, conflicts, and contradictions of the world around it.' Set atop Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau, the town is a place that continues to support artistic self-expression and exploration in all forms—books, poetry, music, architecture, dance, theater. It's also a case study in how culture is forged by diversity, religion, history, tradition, and authentic human relationships. From publishing the The Sewanee Review , America's oldest continuously published literary quarterly, to hosting the historic Sewanee Summer Music Festival, Sewanee is, and has always been, a space for ideas to form and take root. A bourbon pour at Bardstown Bourbon Company, in Bardstown, Kentucky. Ashley Camper/Travel + Leisure If you're new to the whiskey world and are just dipping your toe into distillery tours, Bardstown, Kentucky, might be one of those blink-and-you'll-miss-it towns you pass on your way to Lexington or Louisville. But to connoisseurs, it's known as 'Bourbon Capital of the World,' and for good reason: there are 11 distilleries within a 16-mile radius of downtown Bardstown. Even if you're not big into brown spirits, there's plenty to tempt your taste buds here. During spring, summer, and fall, Bardstown hosts a robust farmers market and farm-to-table dinners. Throughout the year, buzzy events like Bardstown Burger Week and the Kentucky Bourbon Festival draw crowds. Any time you swing by, you can fuel up at a variety of seasonally-focused restaurants with bountiful bourbon selections (naturally), Kentucky-made beers, and seriously impressive wine lists (Oak & Ember, for instance, has a level-three sommelier on staff). 'The fact that Bardstown is not a big metro area is part of its charm,' says Kentucky native Norma Smith, a bourbon butler at The Trail Hotel, a newly-opened luxury boutique hotel . 'Folks can come here, learn about bourbon's history, explore local businesses, and not have to feel the hustle-bustle of a large city. Bardstown is a small town with plenty of awesome things to do—and taste!' Sunset over Mineral Wells, Texas. Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure An hour west of Fort Worth, Mineral Wells, Texas, is a small town steeped in wellness history. It began in 1877, when James Alvis Lynch moved his family and livestock to the area, dug a well on their property, and discovered the water had a funny taste. After testing it on their cattle with no side effects, they began drinking the water themselves, and soon, James and his wife, Armanda, who both suffered from rheumatism, started feeling better. It's said the mineral waters here have a higher concentration of lithium, which helps treat a range of mental and mood disorders. Word spread like wildfire, and tourists from around the world flocked to Mineral Wells in the early 20th century to experience these healing waters. By 1920, the town had 400 mineral wells and was touted as the 'South's greatest health resort.' A century later, Mineral Wells—now the official Wellness Capital of Texas—is seeing a resurgence as locals rally together to revitalize historic properties and honor its wellness theme. Stop into town and you'll feel the slower pace of life and small-town charm coupled with that buzzy aura of rebirth and opportunity. Here, you'll realize there really is just something in the water. The colorful homes along the beach in Panama City Beach, Florida. With 320 days of sunshine, plenty of parks, and no state income tax, Panama City Beach (PCB) is an affordable small-town gem (population 19,393) on Florida's Panhandle that's increasingly capturing the attention of retirees. I've called this place home for over three decades, and each morning I take a walk along the soft, powdery white sand before joining water aerobics classes at Frank Brown Park—a perfect blend of gentle exercise and community connection. The laid-back town offers natural beauty alongside an active lifestyle, where you can fish, paddleboard, hike scenic trails, and spot bottlenose dolphins in the emerald Gulf waters. The fresh local seafood, annual wine festival, and host of new attractions add to the allure. 'We moved down here, and I just fell in love with this place,' says artist and Beach Arts Group founder Helen Ferrell. 'It's a great place to live, to raise kids—and people treat you well. They embrace everybody: the military, the tourists, the locals.' Daniel Pratt, the owner of Panama City Coffee Co., shared a similar sentiment. 'People stop and say, 'Hey, how are you doing?' There's a community feel here you just don't find everywhere.' A mother and son stop for a rest at the Gunzenhausen Platz Fountain in downtown Frankenmuth, Michigan. Nick Irwin/Frankenmuth Chamber of Commerce & CVB Walking down the tidy Main Street of Frankenmuth, Michigan, it would be easy to mistake the town of roughly 5,000 for a Bavarian village, albeit without the alpine terrain. Flowers cascade from window boxes, almost too full of life to be contained. Common Bavarian architecture—large murals, steep roofs, ornate trim, and wooden balconies—is present in each and every building. Old-fashioned light posts brighten the picturesque two-square-mile town, adding another touch of historical decoration. The narrow Cass River meanders through town, very slowly at just one mile per hour on a good day. As a lifelong Midwesterner and toddler mom, I can't help but appreciate such a warm and welcoming environment that's perfectly suited for multigenerational trips. This walkable town is perfectly set up for family fun, with a gnome hunt, mural finder, family-style chicken dinners, multiple water parks, a slew of eateries, and festivals all year long. With easy access from multiple metro areas, including the Detroit airport, Frankenmuth proves it packs a punch when it comes to accessible fun for the whole family. Exterior of the Taos store Artemisia Artwear. Mary Robnett/Travel + Leisure In northern New Mexico, where the Sangre de Cristo Mountains rise above the desert, the town of Taos unfolds. It's one of the few places where everything from shopping to dining feels like an authentic interaction with the people, the culture, and the land. The town is especially known for its handmade Southwestern art, jewelry, and pottery, much of which can be found in the Taos Plaza, the storefront-lined center of the Taos Historic District. The plaza's expansive history dates back to 1796, when the king of Spain granted the land to 63 families in the Taos area. The following settlement became a place where merchants traveled to display their wares—just as they do today. 'This town isn't just special, it's sacred. The pace, the people, the land—it heals you if you let it,' said Maria Valdez, the owner beloved local restaurant La Luna @ La Fonda, in an interview with Travel + Leisure . 'Taos is a crossroads of cultures, histories, and landscapes. You feel it the moment you arrive.' Nina Ruggiero Senior Editorial Director, Travel + Leisure Alisha Prakash Associate Editorial Director, Travel + Leisure Elizabeth Rhodes Senior Editor, Travel + Leisure Elizabeth Cantrell Senior Editor, Travel + Leisure Lisa Cericola Deputy Editor, Southern Living Mackenzie Schmidt Home and Travel Editor, People Ashley Day Associate Editorial Director, Food & Wine Tracey Minkin Julia Sayers Gokhale Senior Travel Editor, Midwest Living Kimberly Zapata Special Projects Editor, Parents
Business Wire
4 hours ago
- Business Wire
Joby Achieves the First Piloted eVTOL Air Taxi Flight Between Two Public Airports
SANTA CRUZ, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY), a company developing all-electric air taxis for commercial passenger service, today announced it has successfully operated with other aircraft in FAA-controlled airspace by completing its first flight between two U.S. airports, Marina (OAR) and Monterey (MRY), California. The achievement is a major step as part of Joby's commercial market readiness, highlighting key capabilities across safety, operations, air traffic control and certification progress. It's a critical measure of the maturity of the Company's path to commercialization as the flights also demonstrated the type of real-world service Joby intends to offer to the public. 'Successfully flying from Marina to Monterey showcased operations of our aircraft integrated in the broader transportation network and further validated its performance to ensure we're prepared for service on day one" Share Joby's flight time from OAR to MRY was approximately 12 minutes over 10 nautical miles, including 5 minutes in a hold pattern at MRY for air traffic spacing. The piloted flight included vertical takeoff, transition to wingborne flight, integration into the controlled airspace around MRY, and vertical landing. The milestone marks the first time a piloted electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) air taxi has flown from one public airport to another. The flight also successfully demonstrated the team's ability to conduct mobile flight tests and deliver full ground support operations away from home base in Marina. 'Successfully flying from Marina to Monterey showcased operations of our aircraft integrated in the broader transportation network and further validated its performance to ensure we're prepared for service on day one,' said Didier Papadopoulos, President of Aircraft OEM at Joby. 'For years, our flight testing has validated our aircraft's capabilities, and we've done this across a wide range of environmental conditions. As part of the natural progression of our flight test program, it was time to venture further, and there was no better place to visit first than our neighbors in Monterey.' These critical flight tests also provided developmental data related to the human factors of operating the aircraft at a controlled airport and in the enroute national airspace. In particular, Joby's ability to integrate into controlled airspace was demonstrated when its aircraft successfully sequenced with other aircraft at Monterey Airport, including a holding pattern to accommodate another arriving airliner. Joby's aircraft systems, pilot certification and training were on full display by adhering to the same air traffic control protocols as a major airline. This is also an important step in the Company's certification efforts, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires aircraft to demonstrate they can operate in shared airspace by flying between multiple airports. On the heels of Joby's planned acquisition of Blade Air Mobility's passenger business, the demonstration continues to show the Company's commercial market readiness. The achievement builds on Joby's long history of testing and development, including more than 40,000 miles flown across its fleet. Joby recently began final assembly of its first aircraft intended for Type Inspection Authorization flight testing, one of the last major steps in FAA certification. It plans to begin flight testing with FAA pilots early next year. Following certification, Joby is planning to launch commercial service domestically starting in Los Angeles and New York City. Video of the flight demonstration can be viewed here. About Joby Joby Aviation, Inc. (NYSE:JOBY) is a California-based transportation company developing an all-electric, vertical take-off and landing air taxi. Joby intends to both operate its fast, quiet, and convenient air taxi service in cities around the world and sell its aircraft to other operators and partners. To learn more, visit Forward-Looking Statements This release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the 'safe harbor' provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to, statements regarding the development and performance of our aircraft, the growth of our manufacturing capabilities, our regulatory outlook, progress and timing, including the expected timing for FAA flight testing; our business plan, objectives, goals and market opportunity, including initial launch markets; and our current expectations relating to our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects, capital needs and growth of our operations. You can identify forward-looking statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements may include words such as 'anticipate', 'estimate', 'expect', 'project', 'plan', 'intend', 'believe', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'can have', 'likely' and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events. All forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially, including: our ability to launch our air taxi service and the growth of the urban air mobility market generally; our ability to produce aircraft that meet our performance expectations in the volumes and on the timelines that we project; the competitive environment in which we operate; our future capital needs; our ability to adequately protect and enforce our intellectual property rights; our ability to effectively respond to evolving regulations and standards relating to our aircraft; our reliance on third-party suppliers and service partners; uncertainties related to our estimates of the size of the market for our service and future revenue opportunities; and other important factors discussed in the section titled 'Risk Factors' in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the 'SEC') on February 27, 2025, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 8, 2025 and August 7, 2025, and in future filings and other reports we file with or furnish to the SEC. Any such forward-looking statements represent management's estimates and beliefs as of the date of this release. While we may elect to update such forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we disclaim any obligation to do so, even if subsequent events cause our views to change.
