Highlights:
– United Airlines reduced its flight schedule at Newark Liberty International Airport due to chronic staffing shortages and technological failures within the FAA. This highlights the critical need for immediate improvements in air traffic control resources to protect passenger safety and alleviate delays.
– The disruptions were exacerbated by controller shortage at the Philadelphia TRACON and outdated FAA technology, prompting investigations and public criticism. This emphasizes the urgent necessity for modernization efforts to improve traffic management efficiency and overall air travel experience.
– Passengers faced significant inconveniences at Newark, prompting United to offer travel waivers. As the aviation industry grapples with ongoing operational challenges, proactive measures like these waivers can offer some relief to affected travelers.
Summary
United Airlines significantly reduced its flight schedule at Newark Liberty International Airport in early 2024 following hundreds of flight disruptions caused by chronic staffing shortages and technological failures within the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Newark, one of the busiest airports in the United States and a major hub for United, experienced extensive delays and cancellations attributed to a shortage of certified air traffic controllers, outdated air traffic control equipment, and runway construction that limited airport capacity. These operational challenges culminated in United cutting 35 daily round-trip flights to alleviate strain on air traffic control resources and protect passenger safety.
The disruptions stemmed primarily from persistent understaffing at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), which manages Newark’s airspace after the FAA relocated the facility from Long Island in 2023 to attract new hires. More than 20% of controllers assigned to Newark reportedly “walked off the job” amid the crisis, exacerbating delays and cancellations that affected thousands of travelers. Concurrently, FAA technology issues involving aging telecommunications and radar equipment further hampered efficient traffic management, prompting investigations and public criticism from United Airlines leadership.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby publicly blamed the FAA’s staffing and technology problems for the ongoing disruptions, emphasizing that without immediate improvements, flight schedule cuts were necessary. The FAA acknowledged the challenges, with Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau confirming investigations into the outages and pledging modernization efforts, including a multi-year plan to upgrade Newark’s air traffic control systems. The U.S. Department of Transportation introduced new incentives to address the controller shortage, but recruitment and retention difficulties persist nationwide, intensifying operational pressures at Newark and other major airports.
These events have underscored systemic vulnerabilities in the U.S. air traffic management system, raising concerns over Newark’s capacity to handle current traffic volumes safely and efficiently. Passengers experienced prolonged delays, cancellations, and tarmac waits, prompting United to offer travel waivers and operational changes to mitigate inconvenience. Until substantial FAA staffing improvements and technology upgrades are realized, Newark’s flight operations are expected to remain constrained, with broader implications for the national air transportation network and airline industry stability.
Background
Newark Liberty International Airport, located just outside New York City, is one of the busiest airports in the United States, ranking 14th in the country in 2024 according to the Department of Transportation’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics. It serves as a major hub for United Airlines, which operates the majority of flights out of the airport, including a significant portion of its domestic round-trip schedule through its regional United Express network.
In recent years, the airport has faced persistent operational challenges primarily due to a chronic shortage of certified air traffic controllers. This staffing shortfall has led to increasing flight delays and cancellations, disrupting travel for thousands of passengers. The problem intensified as the busy summer travel season approached, exacerbated by additional factors such as a walk-off by Newark air traffic controllers and the closure of a runway for rehabilitation work.
Compounding the staffing issues, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has faced technological difficulties stemming from outdated equipment, which further contributed to flight disruptions at Newark. In an effort to address the staffing crisis, the FAA relocated a key air traffic control facility responsible for Newark traffic from Long Island to Philadelphia in July 2023, aiming to attract new hires to the understaffed operation. Despite these measures, a CNN analysis revealed at least 14 consecutive days of FAA-imposed delays affecting flights to or from Newark.
United Airlines has openly blamed both FAA staffing shortages and technology failures for the ongoing disruptions. The airline responded by issuing travel waivers to affected customers and announced the cancellation of 35 roundtrip flights per day from its Newark schedule, citing the inability of the airport to safely handle the planned volume of air traffic without adequate controller staffing. These issues culminated in high-profile incidents, such as United flight 1909 turning back mid-flight due to technology interruptions under investigation by the FAA.
Flight Disruptions at Newark
In early 2024, Newark Liberty International Airport experienced significant flight disruptions attributed to a combination of staffing shortages, equipment failures, and runway construction. Passengers reported missing flights and enduring lengthy delays, with some stuck on planes for hours on the tarmac while attempting to rearrange travel plans. The FAA identified telecommunications and equipment malfunctions at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), which manages Newark traffic, alongside ongoing staffing issues as key causes of the delays.
The disruptions resulted in more than 1,000 flights being delayed or canceled at Newark over the course of the week, with delays averaging over two hours and some lasting up to five hours. On specific days, over 500 flights were delayed and more than 200 canceled, with over a third of inbound and outbound flights delayed and more than 10% canceled on Sunday alone. The situation was further exacerbated by the temporary closure of a runway for rehabilitation work, which restricted airport capacity.
United Airlines, Newark’s largest carrier, directly attributed many of the disruptions to FAA technology failures and persistent staffing shortages, including a reported walk-off by Newark air traffic controllers. In response, the airline announced it would reduce its Newark schedule by nearly three dozen round-trip flights per day starting the weekend following the disruptions, citing no immediate solution to the FAA’s staffing problems. United also offered travel waivers, waiving change fees and fare differences for affected customers.
The U.S. Department of Transportation sought to address the underlying staffing crisis by introducing new incentives aimed at alleviating the shortage of air traffic controllers, an issue that had been ongoing for years and worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic due to training interruptions. Despite these efforts, the combination of structural FAA staffing deficits, aging technology, and airport construction continued to impact operations at Newark throughout the period of disruption.
Causes of Disruptions
The extensive flight disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport were attributed to a combination of factors, primarily involving staffing shortages, outdated technology, and infrastructure issues. The FAA reported that telecommunications and equipment failures at the Philadelphia TRACON, which manages air traffic in and out of Newark, significantly slowed arrivals and departures. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby highlighted repeated technology failures that caused numerous delays, cancellations, and diversions, worsening the travel experience for thousands of passengers.
Staffing shortages played a critical role in the disruptions. The Philadelphia air traffic control center responsible for Newark’s airspace has been “chronically understaffed for years,” according to Kirby, with more than 20% of Newark’s air traffic controllers reportedly walking off the job amid the recent troubles. FAA data from September 2023 indicated that only about 70% of nationwide air traffic controller staffing targets were met by fully certified controllers, with numbers rising to 79% when including trainees. Despite initiatives such as increased starting salaries and accelerated hiring efforts, recruitment and retention remain difficult due to stringent certification requirements, burnout, and external economic factors.
Additional contributing factors included the temporary closure of a runway at Newark for rehabilitation work, which further limited airport capacity. The FAA had relocated the control facility responsible for Newark air traffic from Long Island to Philadelphia in July of the previous year in an effort to attract new hires and address congestion issues. However, delays have persisted, with at least 14 consecutive days of FAA-imposed restrictions reported.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy acknowledged the outdated nature of the current technology system at the Philadelphia facility and pledged to implement a new, state-of-the-art system over the next three to four years, aiming to modernize air traffic control nationwide. Meanwhile, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association emphasized the urgent need for technology and infrastructure upgrades to mitigate ongoing operational challenges.
Schedule Cuts and Operational Changes
United Airlines announced significant schedule reductions at Newark Liberty International Airport in response to extensive flight disruptions caused by FAA staffing shortages and technological failures. Starting the weekend following the announcement, the airline cut 35 daily round-trip flights from its Newark hub, which normally operates an average of 328 such flights per day. The cuts were described by United CEO Scott Kirby as necessary to protect customers amid unresolved, long-standing issues within the FAA’s air traffic control system at Newark.
The airline’s decision came after a week of severe delays, cancellations, and diversions impacting more than 1,000 flights at Newark. Average arrival delays neared two hours, with some flights experiencing delays as long as five hours, while departures faced average delays of approximately 45 minutes. These disruptions were attributed to multiple factors, including technological malfunctions in FAA systems managing Newark airspace and a significant portion of air traffic controllers—reportedly more than 20%—“walking off the job” in response to the system failures.
In addition to reducing its flight schedule, United implemented customer-centric operational changes to alleviate passenger inconvenience. The airline issued travel waivers waiving change fees and fare differences for travelers affected by the disruptions, allowing greater flexibility in rebooking plans. Despite these measures, passengers reported hours-long tarmac delays and difficulties securing new travel arrangements amid the ongoing turmoil.
The FAA acknowledged the staffing and equipment issues, with Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau confirming an active investigation into the disruptions and emphasizing the need for appropriate staffing and reliable equipment to ensure safe operations. Meanwhile, major U.S. airlines, including United, have petitioned the FAA to extend minimum flight requirement cuts at congested New York City-area airports through October 2027, citing persistent and severe air traffic controller shortages.
The operational slowdown also forced United to divert more than 35 flights to alternate airports along the East Coast and manage backlogs of delayed departures. Despite efforts to resolve the immediate technological outages early in the week, limited controller availability continued to constrain the airport’s operational capacity, necessitating ongoing schedule adjustments.
Official Statements and Industry Responses
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby publicly attributed the widespread flight disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport to a combination of FAA staffing shortages and outdated technology. Kirby emphasized that over 20% of the FAA controllers assigned to Newark had effectively walked off the job, exacerbating already chronic understaffing issues at the air traffic control facility. He also cited recurring technology failures that hampered air traffic controllers’ ability to manage flights safely and efficiently, which resulted in numerous cancellations, diversions, and significant delays affecting thousands of passengers.
Kirby expressed disappointment over having to reduce United’s Newark schedule by 35 round-trip flights daily, approximately 10% of its domestic operations from the airport, stating that without immediate resolution of the structural FAA staffing problems, there was no alternative but to cut flights to protect customers. He further commended the Trump administration for proposing substantial systemwide investments in FAA technology, infrastructure, and staffing as a medium- to long-term solution, and encouraged current leadership to apply similar decisive measures specifically for Newark by designating it as a slot-controlled, Level 3 airport.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the FAA’s ongoing challenges, particularly highlighting efforts to address equipment outages caused by aging technology. He visited air traffic controllers at the Philadelphia facility, which now manages some Newark airspace, to show support and oversee attempts to resolve technological problems. Duffy also announced new incentives aimed at alleviating the long-standing air traffic controller staffing shortages, a crisis worsened by pandemic-related training interruptions.
The FAA, while not offering detailed comments on the staffing crisis, confirmed that staffing shortages have been the principal cause of delays since the onset of the disruptions. Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau noted that a special team was investigating the interruptions at Newark to ensure controllers are properly equipped and sufficiently staffed. Meanwhile, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) recognized that recent measures, including schedule reductions, could help mitigate staffing shortages but underscored the urgent need for modernization of the FAA’s technology and infrastructure.
In response to the disruptions, United Airlines implemented travel waivers for affected customers and cited runway construction and weather factors, such as high winds, alongside FAA-related issues as contributing causes of the operational difficulties. The airline’s moves to cut flights at Newark came during a period of heightened uncertainty in the U.S. airline industry, underscoring the fragile nature of the current air traffic management system.
Consequences and Implications
The widespread flight disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport in 2024 have had significant operational and passenger-related consequences, highlighting deeper systemic issues within the FAA and the air traffic control infrastructure. The disruptions, caused by a combination of staffing shortages, outdated technology, and runway closures, resulted in delays for hundreds of flights and numerous cancellations, severely affecting airline operations and traveler experiences.
United Airlines, a major carrier and hub operator at Newark, was forced to cancel 35 flights per day and delay over 230 flights during peak disruption periods, prompting the airline to issue travel waivers and allow passengers to reschedule without additional fees. These operational challenges not only strained the airline’s schedule but also contributed to broader concerns about Newark’s capacity to handle current traffic levels safely and efficiently. United’s CEO Scott Kirby publicly criticized the FAA for chronic understaffing of the Newark air traffic control facility and urged the agency to implement stricter flight capacity controls similar to those at other congested airports such as LaGuardia and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Passengers experienced substantial inconvenience, with some reporting delays approaching three hours or more, exacerbating anxiety and dissatisfaction among travelers. Average delays on certain days reached nearly two hours for arrivals and 45 minutes for departures, with peak delays extending up to five hours. The persistence of these issues has cast doubt on the FAA’s ability to swiftly resolve staffing shortages and upgrade essential technology, given that the agency acknowledged the air traffic control equipment in use at Newark is “incredibly old” and pledged a multi-year timeline for modernization efforts.
The staffing shortages reflect a nationwide trend, with FAA data indicating that as of September 2023, only about 70% of certified air traffic controller positions were filled, rising to 79% when trainees are included. This shortfall is compounded by the demanding nature of the job, long hours, and strict certification requirements, leading to recruitment and retention challenges. The issues at Newark have prompted the FAA to investigate and consider measures such as extended flight restrictions to mitigate the strain on the system.
In a broader context, the disruptions at Newark have implications for the national air transportation network, particularly given the airport’s status as the 14th busiest in the United States and a critical hub for United Airlines. The ongoing operational difficulties risk undermining traveler confidence, increasing airline costs, and impacting regional and international connectivity. Until the FAA can implement new technology systems and address staffing deficits effectively, Newark and other similarly congested airports may continue to experience elevated levels of delays and cancellations, necessitating coordinated responses from airlines, regulators, and labor organizations to stabilize operations and improve resilience.
The content is provided by Harper Eastwood, Front Signals
