Technical Failures, Runway Construction, and Staff Shortages: Government Demands Flight Cuts and Additional Air Traffic Controllers at Newark
The U.S. government has begun discussions with airlines to reduce the number of flights at Newark Liberty International Airport following a series of incidents that have caused massive delays since April 28. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced this in an interview with CNN, stating that the goal is to alleviate a situation that has led to delays of up to five hours in multiple operations.
Technical Failures and Construction Paralyze the Airport
Newark, one of the busiest airports in the country and a key hub for the New York metropolitan area, is facing a series of simultaneous challenges. These include ongoing runway construction, equipment failures at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and a critical shortage of air traffic controllers.
One of the most alarming incidents occurred on April 28, when controllers lost communication with several aircraft for 30 seconds. This event triggered urgent calls from lawmakers to investigate the situation and allocate additional resources to Newark.
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United Airlines Cuts 10% of Its Operations
United Airlines, the dominant carrier at the airport, has announced the elimination of an additional 35 daily flights, representing 10% of its current schedule at this terminal. According to its CEO, Scott Kirby, the decision was made after approximately 20% of the air traffic controllers assigned to Newark were absent.
However, the controllers’ union disputed this claim on Monday, clarifying that the employees had taken leave under a law that protects absences due to work-related injuries or trauma.
Prior to these cuts, United operated around 440 daily flights at Newark. With the reductions already implemented due to construction and the new adjustments, the number has dropped to 293 flights per day.
Ongoing Measures: New Technology and Additional Staff
To address the crisis, Duffy confirmed that new air traffic controllers are being trained to handle Newark’s air traffic and that new telecommunications equipment is expected to be installed in the control tower soon.
As part of a restructuring effort initiated last year, airspace control for Newark was transferred to Philadelphia, a measure taken by the FAA to better manage traffic in the congested New York air corridor.
Key Request: Designate Newark as a Slot-Controlled Airport
Kirby has also requested that the FAA designate Newark as a slot-controlled airport. This designation would officially limit the number of arrivals and departures, a measure currently only applied at extremely congested airports like JFK or LaGuardia. The goal is to prevent delays caused by overcrowding and operational capacity shortages.
Relief Measures Extended Until 2027
In a coordinated effort, major U.S. airlines have asked the FAA to extend relief from minimum flight requirements at New York-area airports until October 2027. They argue that the staffing shortage at control centers remains critical nationwide and will not be resolved in the short term.
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