*

FAA announces immediate cuts to Newark flights to reduce

congestion

*

Flight reductions come after weeks of significant delays,

technology issues

*

FAA will allow more flight after runway construction

largely

ends on June 15

(Recasts, adds Delta, American statements in paragraphs 10-11,

more on air traffic control staffing)

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - The Federal Aviation

Administration said on Tuesday it would require flight cuts at

Newark, one of the main airports serving New York City, after it

met with U.S. airlines to address congestion issues following a

series of major disruptions.

New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport, located

about 9 miles (14.5 km) from Manhattan, has been dealing with a

chaotic series of equipment outages, runway construction and air

traffic control staffing issues for weeks.

The FAA interim order did not specify which flights were

being cut but said it requires three to seven flight reductions

per hour based on the time of day over what was approved last

autumn.

The FAA said the action would "relieve the substantial

inconvenience to the traveling public caused by excessive flight

delays at the airport."

Newark has in recent weeks often suffered delays of five or

more hours and dozens of daily canceled or delayed flights.

The FAA could add or reduce flights if it determines

capacity exists to accommodate more flights without a

significant increase in delays, or if further flight reductions

are needed.

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 and said this month it wanted the FAA

to impose new limitations to address ongoing delays.

United declined to comment on Tuesday.

The FAA said it held three days of one-on-one meetings

with airlines last week "to find a balance between reducing

their operations at the airport and meeting the needs of each

individual airline."

American Airlines ( AAL ) said it had "committed to doing

our part to support more efficient operations" and raised air

traffic staffing in other places that "demonstrated the urgent

need to staff up."

Delta Air Lines ( DAL ) said it was committed to working

to find a solution to address Newark's challenges.

The FAA informed airlines Monday of some additional required

flight cuts but the order did not specify which would be

affected.

The FAA order allows a maximum arrival rate at Newark of 28

aircraft per hour and departure rate of 28 per hour until runway

construction is largely complete by June 15. The maximum arrival

and departure rates will then rise to 34 aircraft per hour until

October 25.

The FAA will limit flights to 28 per hour on Saturdays

through the end of the year because runway construction will

continue on Saturdays after June 15.

Under normal circumstances, Newark could handle 77 total

flights per hour, the FAA said.

The meetings included United, Delta, JetBlue Airways ( JBLU )

, American, Alaska Airlines, Spirit Airlines and

Allegiant Air

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

Philadelphia to address staffing and congested New York

City-area traffic and the facility has faced numerous technology

issues.

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 24 in place.