May 28 (Reuters) - Operations at Newark, one of the main

airports serving New York City, have improved significantly

after the federal government imposed flight cuts following a

series of major disruptions, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean

Duffy said on Wednesday.

New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport, located

about 9 miles (14.5 km) from Manhattan, has experienced a

chaotic series of equipment outages, runway construction and air

traffic control staffing issues for weeks.

Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered a

reduction in flights to a maximum of 28 arrivals per hour and 28

departures per hour until runway construction is largely

complete by June 15. After that, the maximum arrival and

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

Under normal circumstances, Newark could handle 77 total

flights per hour.

"If you book, I think you're going to fly in Newark --

you're not going to see what you saw a couple weeks ago," Duffy

said. "Don't go to another airport. If you book at Newark,

you're mostly likely going to fly at Newark. Because we've

slowed down, the number of departures an hour is now a number

that is manageable."

Newark is a major hub for United Airlines, which

operates nearly 70% of the airport's flights. United has sharply

cut flights at the airport.

The FAA last year relocated control of Newark's airspace to

Philadelphia to address staffing and congested New York

City-area traffic, which includes New York's LaGuardia and John

F. Kennedy airports. The facility in Philadelphia that oversees

Newark air space has faced numerous technology issues.

Duffy said the FAA has issued a software update to address a

communications glitch. He said Verizon has improved one

of the FAA's telecommunications lines to make it more resilient

and resistant to technology glitches and has also laid a new

fiber line between New York and Philadelphia. Duffy said he

hopes the new fiber line will be in use by early July.

Newark in recent weeks had often suffered delays of five or

more hours and dozens of daily canceled or delayed flights.

Duffy reiterated calls for Congress to provide tens of

billions of dollars to build a new air traffic control system.

"I am concerned we could have more Newarks," Duffy said.

Nationwide, the FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers

below targeted staffing levels. 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. Another 16 controllers are

training and will get certified for Newark airspace on a rolling

basis.