Reduced Departures at Newark Airport: United Airlines Eliminates 35 Daily Flights Due to Controller Personnel Shortage
Newark Airport Chaos: 2025 Edition
Passengers faced a nightmarish travel experience over the weekend, as Newark Liberty International Airport grappled with delays, cancellations, and staffing shortages. Here's the lowdown on this modern-day air-trauma!
The hub outside New York City has been buzzing with disruptions all week, and things didn't improve on Saturday. United Airlines boldly slashed 35 daily flights from its Newark schedule after blaming the Federal Aviation Administration for its failure to address long-standing challenges within the air-traffic control system.
The United Airlines CEO, Scott Kirby, attributed the technology mishaps at the New Jersey airport to failing equipment more than once in recent days. To make matters worse, over 20% of Newark's traffic controllers reportedly deserted their posts, compounding the mess.
Kirby lashed out, accusing the FAA of neglecting Newark airport's persistent staffing problems for years. He confirmed that, without the controllers, the airport simply cannot handle its scheduled traffic in the upcoming weeks and months.
Airport status reports revealed that Saturday morning's arrivals were suffering average delays of close to two hours, with some up to five hours long. Departures were delayed by an average of 45 minutes. However, by late afternoon, arriving flights were over three hours behind schedule on average, while departing flights saw a more manageable half-hour delay on average.
Flight tracking shows the chaos rippling through airports in major cities like Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, and Dallas, as well as others. Interestingly, United Airlines dominates Newark's operations, with the 35 cut flights accounting for about 10% of their round-trip domestic schedule.
Newark Liberty International Airport echoed these concerns, citing both staffing issues and construction delays in a warning to travelers on Thursday.
The Trump administration has vowed to resurrect the air traffic controller workforce, boosting hiring efforts and providing incentives to prolong controllers' careers. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a new program aimed at recruiting new controllers and encouraging existing ones to stay on the job.
However, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association rather pointed towards technology and infrastructure upgrades as a pressing need in order to truly tackle the staffing shortages.
Duffy reassured the public that he had been engaging with "our hardworking air traffic controllers" in an effort to rectify the equipment outages caused by outdated technology.
United's flight reductions come at a precarious time for U.S. airlines, as potential customers are reconsidering travel decisions in light of economic uncertainties caused by ongoing trade wars. In fact, United's bold move to provide two fiscal forecasts – one for a recession scenario and one for economic stability – epitomizes the turmoil engulfing the industry.
From Newark, United whisks passengers away to 76 U.S. cities and 81 international destinations – an extensive network, indeed!
- The tech mishaps at Newark Liberty International Airport were due to failing equipment, as stated by United Airlines CEO, Scott Kirby.
- United Airlines reduced 35 daily flights from its Newark schedule due to the FAA's alleged neglect of Newark airport's persistent staffing problems.
- Kirby accused the FAA of compounding the air-traffic control system's challenges at Newark for years.
- Without traffic controllers, Newark cannot handle its scheduled traffic, according to United Airlines CEO.
- On Saturday, average delays for arrivals at Newark Airport were almost two hours, with some delays reaching up to five hours.
- Departures from Newark Airport faced an average delay of 45 minutes, but by late afternoon, arrive delays were over three hours behind schedule on average.
- The chaos at Newark Airport has impacted other major cities, including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, and Dallas.
- The National Air Traffic Controllers Association emphasizes the need for technology and infrastructure upgrades to address staffing shortages.
- U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is working to rectify equipment outages caused by outdated technology, as stated in his efforts to engage with air traffic controllers.
