Delays and Cancellations Plague Newark Airport: Here's the Scoop
United Airlines reduces 35 daily departures from Newark airport, attributing the action to insufficient air traffic controllers.
Passengers dealing with flights to or from Newark Liberty International Airport have faced numerous delays and cancellations over the weekend, all thanks to an air traffic controller shortage - a problem the current administration vows to solve.
The bustling airport outside New York City has seen chaos all week. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is being blamed for neglecting to address "persistent" challenges related to the air-traffic control system. United Airlines slashed 35 daily flights from its Newark schedule starting Saturday, citing equipment failures and controller walkouts.
Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO, claimed that the technology handling planes at the New Jersey airport malfunctioned multiple times recently. The equipment malfunctions resulted in flight delays, cancellations, and diversions, which were further compounded when over 20% of Newark's traffic controllers went AWOL, according to Kirby.
Kirby penned a letter to customers, stating: "This particular air traffic control facility has been understaffed for years, and without these controllers, it's now clear - and the FAA tells us - that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead."
FAA airport status reports stated that staffing issues caused average delays of nearly two hours for flights scheduled to arrive at Newark on Saturday morning, with some delays reaching up to five hours. Departures saw an average delay of 45 minutes. However, by late afternoon, arriving flights were running about three hours behind schedule, while the delay for departing flights had shortened to a mere half-hour on average.
The aftermath of the chaos at Newark was felt far and wide, with airports in cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, and more experiencing ripple effects. United Airlines dominates Newark's flight landscape, and the 35 cut flights represent roughly 10% of its round-trip domestic schedule.
Newark Liberty International Airport warned travelers about potential delays on Thursday, attributing them to both staffing issues and construction work.
While the Trump administration is making attempts to boost the air traffic controller workforce and tackle the nation's controller shortage, the U.S. transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, announced a program to recruit new controllers and offer existing ones incentives not to retire.
Despite this, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a workers' union, stated these moves could help alleviate staff shortages but also emphasized the need for long-overdue technology and infrastructure upgrades.
Duffy himself confirmed that he visited air traffic controllers to address the equipment outages caused by outdated technology.
United's decision to lessen its flight schedule in Newark coincides with an uncertain time for U.S. airlines, as potential customers are doubting whether to travel for work or leisure given the uncertainties surrounding President Donald Trump's trade war and its impact on the economy.
In fact, United made the unusual move of offering two separate financial forecasts this year: one in case of a recession, and one if not. From Newark, United flies to 76 U.S. cities and 81 international destinations.
- The national air traffic controller shortage at Newark Liberty International Airport has been a persistent challenge for the technology handling planes, causing numerous delays and cancellations.
- The current administration is attempting to solve the controller shortage issue in the aviation industry, also planning to recruit new controllers and offer incentives to retain existing ones.
- A recent letter from Scott Kirby, United Airlines CEO, pinned the tech malfunctions at the New Jersey airport on equipment failures that led to flight delays, cancellations, and diversions.
- Over 20% of Newark's traffic controllers went AWOL, according to Kirby, further exacerbating the problem.
- The FAA's airport status reports show average delays of nearly two hours for flights arriving at Newark on Saturday morning, with some delays reaching up to five hours.
- The recent chaos at Newark Airport has caused ripple effects across other major cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Dallas, and more.
- United Airlines dominates the Newark flight landscape, with the 35 cut flights representing roughly 10% of its round-trip domestic schedule.
- Travelers were warned about potential delays at Newark Liberty International Airport as early as Thursday, due to both staffing issues and construction work.
- In response to the uncertainties surrounding President Donald Trump's trade war and its impact on the economy, United Airlines made an unusual move by offering two separate financial forecasts this year.
