The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Wednesday “immediate steps” it’s taking to improve operations at Newark Liberty International Airport, including accelerating technological updates and increasing air traffic control staffing.

The announcement comes as the FAA has slowed arrivals and departures at Newark as a result of runway construction and staffing and technology issues at the Philadelphia TRACON — which processes radar data transmitted from the New York-based STARS system to guide aircraft in and out of Newark.

Many of the steps announced address the reliability of the connection between the two cities.

The FAA announced it would add three new high-bandwidth telecommunications connections between the Philadelphia TRACON and the New York-based STARS — to improve “speed, reliability and redundancy” — and would replace the copper telecommunications connections with updated fiberoptic technology, for “greater bandwidth and speed.”

The FAA also announced it would establish a STARS hub at the Philadelphia TRACON so that the latter “does not depend on a telecommunications feed from the New York STARS hub.”

The announced improvements come after Newark air traffic controller screens went dark for 30 seconds last week, leading to a complete loss of communication between the controllers and the planes coming into the airport.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), the union representing controllers, said multiple workers are taking leave for trauma they endured, leading to significant delays at the airport.

The FAA also announced on Wednesday it would address the staffing shortages. There are currently 22 fully certified controllers at the Philadelphia TRACON, which handles Newark traffic, and 21 controllers and supervisors in training. Ten of those 21 trainees are “receiving on-the-job training,” according to the FAA, and all 10 of them certified on at least one position.

“We have a healthy pipeline with training classes filled through July 2026,” the FAA said.

“When staffing or equipment issues occur, the FAA will ensure safety by slowing the rate of arrivals into the airport. We will continue to provide updates to the public as we work through these issues,” the FAA said.