June 2 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation Administration

said it plans to boost the number of flights at Newark Liberty

International Airport next week after a runway reopened on

Monday nearly two weeks ahead of schedule.

Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau said at a press

conference at the airport that the runway is already being used

for departing flights but that it will take until June 9 to

certify it for arrivals before the rate can be increased to 34

arriving flights per hour from the present 28. Transportation

Secretary Sean Duffy said the airport should rise to 34 arriving

flights per hour on June 10.

Last month, the FAA ordered a reduction in flights to a maximum

of 28 arrivals and 28 departures per hour until runway

construction was completed. After that, the maximum arrival and

departure rates will rise to 34 per hour until October 25.

Newark, New Jersey, is a major hub for United Airlines

, which operates nearly 70% of the airport's flights and

has sharply cut flights.

"If you are buying a ticket today you can have confidence,"

United CEO Scott Kirby said at a press conference along with the

FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation. He noted that

bookings had declined at Newark, which means that prices and

ticket availability are better than historically even with the

flight cuts.

Newark Liberty, one of the main airports serving New York

City, is about 9 miles (14.5 km) from Manhattan.

Operations at Newark have improved significantly after the

federal government imposed flight cuts following a series of

major disruptions.

Under normal circumstances, Newark could handle 77

total flights per hour. The FAA last year relocated control of

Newark's airspace to Philadelphia to address staffing and

congested New York City-area traffic. The facility in

Philadelphia that oversees Newark airspace has faced numerous

technology issues.

Newark in recent weeks has often suffered delays of five or

more hours and dozens of daily canceled or delayed flights.

Nationwide, the staffing of FAA air traffic controllers is

about 3,500 short of the level targeted by the agency.

The area overseeing Newark has a targeted staffing level of

38 certified controllers, but currently has just 22 in place,

six of whom are on stress or medical leave now, Duffy said. The

FAA has another 22 controllers in training for Newark air

traffic, he added.