Prolonged flight disruptions persist for the 6th day at Newark Airport, attributed to staffing challenges in air traffic control, according to FAA.
The Unending Traffic Turmoil at Newark continues to wreak havoc for weary travelers passing through the bustling New York City-adjacent Newark airport for a staggering sixth consecutive day.
Saturday saw yet another barrage of flight cancellations and delays bound for Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, attributed once more to the ongoing issue of staffing. Flights arriving at the airport encountered average delays of three hours and 32 minutes by early afternoon, as per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The FAA's Ground Delay Program announced delays averaging over two hours for flights destined for Newark the day prior.
Although the FAA has yet to provide an official statement regarding this staffing predicament, they have listed it as the root cause of delays since the initial outbreak on Monday. Each day since then has been marked by equipment outages that led to the cancellation of over 100 United Airlines flights and the diversion of 37 others.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby issued a statement on Friday regarding the relentless series of delays, suggesting that the airport's issues stemmed from a combination of technological malfunctions and an estimated 20% of the FAA controllers for EWR (Newark Liberty International Airport) abandoning their posts.
In response, United Airlines plans to cut 35 round-trip flights from their Newark itinerary weekly, commencing this weekend. The decision, according to Kirby, is an unfortunate necessity to "protect our customers" due to the airport's chronic understaffing that, as revealed by the FAA, could negatively impact the number of planes capable of operating at Newark in the upcoming weeks and months.
One exasperated passenger, Izabela Olito, shared her ordeal of a three-and-a-half-hour delay on a flight from West Palm Beach to Newark. Although understandably frustrated, Olito emphasized her wish for advance notification of delays, "so then we don't have to leave home and be stranded at the airport for three to four hours."
Perceived as inadequate and outdated, air traffic control structures in the United States are in dire need of revitalization, as the shortage of approximately 3,000 controllers continues to persist[4]. The Department of Transportation recently rolled out financial incentives for air traffic controllers, including a $5,000 bonus for those completing the air traffic controller academy and bonuses for controllers braving the difficult-to-staff facilities[4]. The FAA is also making efforts to incentivize controllers to work past their retirement age.
These staffing-induced delays are just the latest inconvenience for Newark airport passengers as a busy travel season looms ahead, following a slew of ancillary problems, such as a runway rehabilitation project that often shuts down one of the airport's main runways until mid-June 2025 and the relocation of a key control facility responsible for Newark air traffic from Long Island to Philadelphia in a failed bid to attract new staff[1]. FlightAware data showed that one in five flights to or from Newark were canceled on Thursday, with over 40% of all takeoffs and landings delayed[1].
CNN's Taylor Romine, Zoe Sottile, and Leigh Waldman contributed to this report.
Air Traffic Control Shortage Factors:
- Staffing Gap: The FAA grapples with a shortage of around 3,500 air traffic controllers nationwide, leading to extended workweeks and mandatory overtime.
- Equipment Outages: Periodic telecommunications line and system outages occur, hindering controllers' capacity to efficiently manage air traffic.
- Persistent Runway Construction: Newark's needed runway repairs have resulted in the closure of one runway until mid-June 2025, further restricting the airport's capacity and fueling delays.
The staffing shortage at Newark Liberty International Airport continues to be a significant factor in regular delays, with reports suggesting that 20% of FAA controllers for EWR have been absent. United Airlines is incentivizing controllers to work past their retirement age and has announced cutbacks on round-trip flights from their Newark itinerary to mitigate the impact of chronic understaffing. Also contributing to the delays is the persistent runway construction at Newark, as one of the main runways will remain closed until mid-June 2025.
