Newark Airport’s Issues: What to Know

After three days of meetings with airlines, the Federal Aviation Administration said on Friday that it would start limiting the number of hourly arrivals at Newark Liberty International Airport as soon as May 28.

The promised schedule change comes after the airport has faced many disruptions in recent weeks. Technology outages, air traffic controller shortages and runway construction at the busy hub have led to scores of canceled and delayed flights.

The F.A.A. says it’s trying to improve the situation, including with software and hardware upgrades. Easing the flight schedule would also help keep traffic moving, and the meetings this week included representatives from United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue Airways, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Allegiant Air.

“Reducing the number of flights scheduled at Newark will help ensure that we can safely and reliably operate the flights that remain on the schedule,” United said in a statement on Friday. The airline operates 70 percent of the flights at Newark.

What’s going on with staffing?

Air traffic control facilities nationwide have not had enough controllers — the professionals who guide planes into and out of airports — for years, a result of employee turnover, tight budgets, long training times and other factors.

There are only 22 certified controllers employed to serve Newark, which is just over half shy of the staffing target of 38, according to the F.A.A. The agency also employs five supervisors and nearly two dozen controllers and supervisors in training. Ten trainees can do at least some work without extra supervision, the agency said this week.