On Monday, travelers faced substantial disruptions as most flights heading to Newark Liberty International Airport experienced delays exceeding an hour and 40 minutes. This situation arose due to a significant shortfall in air traffic control staffing, compelling the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue an advisory that impacted incoming flights from all major U.S. airports and select Canadian locations.
The FAA has not provided immediate comments regarding this staffing issue, leaving passengers and airlines seeking clarity on the situation. Despite the extensive delays affecting incoming flights, flight tracking service FlightAware reported that very few flights to and from Newark were canceled. However, the ripple effects of these delays can be felt globally, impacting flight schedules and connections.
Monday's delays add to a series of recent setbacks for Newark, recognized as one of the busiest airports in the nation and a crucial hub for United Airlines. Just last Friday, an air traffic control facility responsible for guiding planes in and out of Newark experienced a brief radar outage. Earlier in the month, a similar incident left controllers unable to communicate with pilots for approximately 90 seconds, raising concerns about operational efficiency.
In addition to these radar issues, the FAA was compelled to slow down flights to and from Newark early on Sunday due to a telecommunications problem at the same facility. This string of technical difficulties has prompted scrutiny over the airport’s operational reliability.
In light of the ongoing challenges, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans on NBC’s “Meet the Press” to implement measures aimed at reducing flight delays at Newark. He indicated that there would be a deliberate slowdown of flights to tackle the persistent delays that have plagued the airport in recent weeks. Furthermore, the Trump administration has committed to installing new fiber-optic cables to enhance communication between the airport and the newly relocated control facility, which has moved from Long Island, New York, to Philadelphia.
During a news conference on Monday, Secretary Duffy attempted to shift blame regarding the ongoing issues, stating that the previous administration had “bungled” the transition to Philadelphia. As the situation continues to unfold, passengers and airlines alike are advised to monitor updates regarding flight schedules and operational changes at Newark Liberty International Airport.
This is a developing story, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.
