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Newark Liberty International Airport has been experiencing severe disruptions due to a combination of air traffic control equipment failures and staffing shortages. This situation, alongside ongoing infrastructure improvements, has led to significant flight delays and cancellations. United Airlines, the airport's largest carrier, reacted by canceling 35 daily flights.
United Airlines' CEO, Scott Kirby, addressed the issue in a letter to customers. "The long-simmering FAA challenges boiled over this week," Kirby wrote, explaining the decision as necessary due to "recent equipment failures" and a shortage of air traffic controllers. Kirby also referenced February reports that the FAA is short-staffed by thousands of fully-certified controllers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not commented on Kirby's remarks.
United has announced travel waivers, allowing passengers scheduled to fly in the near future to make changes to their itineraries without penalties. Flights across the country have faced delays due to storms, affecting major hubs like Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Charlotte Douglas International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
