Prolonged flight disruptions persist for the sixth consecutive day at Newark Airport due to reported staffing problems within air traffic control.
Newark Airport Delays Persist: A Six-Day Marathon
For six consecutive days, travelers have been subjected to grueling delays as they fly in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport, located near New York City. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has attributed these hold-ups to staffing issues, causing unwanted headaches for passengers and airlines alike.
On Saturday, the FAA imposed delays yet again on flights bound for Newark, affecting some arriving flights with average delays surpassing three hours in the afternoon. Almost 270 flights to or from Newark were delayed during the day, accounting for around a quarter of the total scheduled flights at the airport, according to FlightAware.
The FAA's Ground Delay Program announced delays averaging over two hours on Friday for flights headed to Newark. Disturbingly, it seems that this isn't an isolated incident but rather a pattern that has been ongoing since Monday. Equipment outages on that day resulted in United Airlines canceling over 100 flights and diverting 37 others.
United Airlines' CEO, Scott Kirby, addressed the delays on Friday, stating that the issues appear to stem from a combination of technology failures and more than 20% of the FAA controllers for EWR (Newark Liberty International Airport) going AWOL. The airline will cancel 35 round-trip flights daily from their Newark schedule starting this weekend, as Kirby believes it’s the only choice to protect customers.
"Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead," Kirby stated.
One passenger, Izabela Olito, described her own experience on a Friday flight from West Palm Beach to Newark – a three-and-a-half-hour delay. Olito expressed disappointment that airlines didn't notify passengers ahead of the delays, a sentiment that many passengers likely share.
"I think it's time to hire a new, more experienced staff," Olito added. "I'd be more confident in that."
In a public statement on behalf of the administration, Chris Rocheleau, FAA Acting Administrator, mentioned that the FAA is actively investigating the technology behind these disruptions. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that controllers have the proper equipment and appropriate staffing levels to function effectively.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced additional financial incentives on Thursday to recruit and retain air traffic controllers, as part of their ongoing efforts to combat the shortage of these critical workers.
Despite these efforts, the Newark airport continues to deal with ongoing challenges, including a runway rehabilitation project that is regularly closing one of its main runways until mid-June. Travelers should be prepared for continued disruptions as the FAA works to restore normal operations at this busy travel hub.
- Due to the ongoing airport delays in Newark, some travelers may consider adjusting their lifestyle for upcoming trips, opting for more flexible travel schedules or alternative airports.
- Affected passengers might also prioritize travel arrangements that include fly-early-or-fly-late options to avoid the extended delays that have occurred at Newark Liberty International Airport over the past week.
