Passengers traveling to or from Newark Liberty International Airport faced significant disruptions on Saturday, with numerous flights delayed or canceled. This situation was primarily attributed to a shortage of air traffic controllers, a problem that has been prevalent across the nation. The Trump administration has pledged to address this critical issue, which has been affecting airports nationwide.
The busy airport, located just outside New York City, experienced ongoing delays and cancellations throughout the week. United Airlines announced a reduction of 35 daily flights from its Newark schedule starting Saturday, citing failures in the technology used to manage air traffic at the facility. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby expressed concerns over the aging infrastructure, noting that the air traffic control systems had failed multiple times in recent days.
The situation at Newark was exacerbated by the fact that over one-fifth of the airport’s traffic controllers reportedly “walked off the job.” Kirby emphasized in a letter to customers that this air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years. He stated that without adequate staffing, Newark Airport cannot effectively manage the volume of flights scheduled for the coming weeks and months.
According to reports from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), staffing issues were leading to average delays of nearly two hours for some arriving flights, while departures were experiencing average delays of around 45 minutes. Just two days prior, officials at Newark Liberty International Airport had warned travelers about potential delays due to both staffing shortages and ongoing construction.
The Trump administration has been actively working to "supercharge" the air traffic controller workforce as part of its efforts to tackle the nationwide shortage of controllers. On Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced a new program aimed at recruiting additional controllers and offering incentives to retain current staff, discouraging early retirements. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a labor union, acknowledged that these initiatives could help alleviate staffing shortages but also emphasized the urgent need for upgrades to technology and infrastructure in the air traffic control system.
United Airlines' decision to cut back on its flight schedule at Newark comes at a precarious time for the U.S. airline industry. With uncertainties surrounding President Donald Trump’s trade war and its potential impact on the economy, many potential travelers are rethinking their plans to fly for business or leisure. In light of these uncertainties, United made the rare decision to provide two different financial forecasts for the year: one assuming a recession and the other assuming stable economic conditions.
