If you’ve ever stood in the arrivals hall at Newark Liberty International (EWR), you know it’s basically a roll of the dice. Today, January 17, 2026, was one of those days where the board looked deceptively green, but the ground reality was a bit more of a scramble. Honestly, if you were expecting a total meltdown because of the "possible" ground delays the FAA warned about earlier this morning, you probably got lucky.
It’s been a weird morning.
The Current Vibe: Newark Airport Today Arrivals
Right now, the FAA is reporting that general arrival traffic is seeing airborne delays of 15 minutes or less. That’s basically nothing in "Newark time." However, don’t let that tiny number fool you if you’re sitting on the tarmac. Early this morning, there was a looming threat of a Ground Delay Program for the major NYC-area hubs, including EWR and JFK.
As of about 5:30 AM, things stabilized, but the "gate hold" situation is real. Pilots are reporting taxi delays of about 15 minutes. It’s not a nightmare, but it’s enough to make you miss your Uber if you didn't pad your schedule.
Who’s landing and who’s lagging?
The international arrivals have been hitting the tarmac pretty consistently. We saw United 83 from Delhi and United 187 from Johannesburg touch down relatively close to their scheduled times. If you were on one of those long-hauls, you likely didn't feel the pinch as much as the domestic folks.
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Domestic arrivals from the West Coast—think Phoenix (UA1375) and San Diego (UA1827)—have been sliding in with surprisingly little drama. But here’s the kicker: the AirTrain is currently the biggest headache for anyone landing today.
The AirTrain Mess Nobody Warned You About
While everyone is staring at the flight trackers, the real story for what happened at Newark airport today arrivals is actually happening on the tracks. Or rather, not happening.
Starting January 15, we entered a new phase of the AirTrain replacement project. This is a massive, multi-year headache. Today, specifically, there is a partial service reduction. If you just landed and you’re trying to get to the Airport Train Station to catch NJ Transit or Amtrak, you’re in for a surprise.
- Monday through Friday (5 AM to 3 PM): No AirTrain to the train station.
- The Fix: You have to hop on a shuttle bus.
- The Reality: These buses depart once they're "loaded," which is code for "whenever we feel like it."
If you are arriving at Terminal A and need to get to the parking lots or the rail link, honestly, just give yourself an extra 30 minutes. The walk times to gates are decent (mostly under 10 minutes), but that shuttle transfer is a bottleneck.
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Customs and Security: The Morning Rush
If you’re picking someone up, Terminal C is the busiest spot, as usual. General security lines there were hovering around 16 minutes earlier, while Terminal A was a ghost town with almost no wait. Customs for international arrivals at Terminal B has been moving at a steady clip—roughly 12-15 minutes for the general line.
Why the FAA is Keeping a Lid on EWR
You might have heard that the FAA extended the Newark flight cap. This isn't just bureaucratic red tape. They are limiting the airport to about 36 arrivals and 36 departures per hour through late 2026.
Why? Because Newark is notorious for "cascading delays." One bad gust of wind in the morning can ruin a flight schedule in San Francisco by the afternoon. By capping the hourly operations, they’re trying to prevent the kind of 4-hour "ground stops" we saw during the December storms. Today, that cap seems to be working. The airspace isn't over-saturated, which is why the airborne delays stayed under that 15-minute mark.
Navigating the Terminals Right Now
If you're at the airport now, here is the ground-level intel you need:
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- Terminal A (The New One): It's beautiful, but the walk from the gate to the curb can feel like a marathon. If you're picking someone up, tell them to meet you at Level 1, Door 5. There’s almost no wait for cars there right now.
- Terminal B: This is where the international chaos lives. If your person is coming through Terminal B, Level 2, Door 8 is your best bet for a quick getaway.
- Terminal C: United’s fortress. Level 1, Door 6 is currently the most congested area for arrivals. If you can, have your party meet you at the departures level instead. It’s a classic Newark pro-tip that still works.
What to Watch for Later Today
The weather forecast is holding steady, but the "Oceanic Route Closures" mentioned in the National Airspace System status could affect some late-morning arrivals from Europe or the Caribbean. It’s not a full-blown crisis, but it’s something to keep an eye on if you're tracking a flight from across the pond.
Honestly, Newark is a beast that changes by the hour. Today started with a threat of ground stops that didn't fully materialize, leaving us with a "normal" level of Newark friction. That means minor taxi delays, a confusing shuttle bus system for the train station, and the usual Terminal C hustle.
Practical Next Steps:
Check the "Where is my plane?" feature on the United app if you're flying their metal; it's often more accurate than the airport screens. If you're heading to the airport to pick someone up, check the P6 shuttle bus status if they need the rail link—don't let them get stuck at the P4 station wondering where the train went. Lastly, keep a close eye on the FAA's NAS status dashboard if the wind picks up this afternoon, as that 15-minute delay can jump to 60 minutes in the blink of an eye.