Significant disruptions persist at Newark Airport, entering their sixth day; the Federal Aviation Administration attributes these delays to staffing shortages in air traffic control.
Playing Roulette with Flight Delays at Newark Airport causes unprecedented turbulence for six consecutive days, leaving travelers stuck in limbo. Once again, the FAA's staffing woes are to blame for the chaos at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Saturday, causing average delays of over three hours for some incoming flights. A staggering 270 flights to or from Newark faced delays, accounting for about a quarter of the total flights scheduled at the airport.
On Friday, FAA's Ground Delay Program announced averaging more than two hours of delays for flights heading to Newark, echoing similar challenges encountered since Monday. While the FAA remains tight-lipped about the staffing issues, United Airlines' CEO Scott Kirby spilled the beans, blaming the problem on "over 20% of the FAA controllers for EWR walking off the job" combined with antiquated technology.
As a result, United Airlines plans to axe 35 daily round-trip flights from their Newark schedule, starting this weekend, exacerbating the disruption. In a statement, Kirby commented, "This facility has been chronically understaffed for years, and without these controllers, it's now clear that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there."
Frustrated passengers, like Izabela Olito from West Palm Beach, endure lengthy delays of up to three-and-a-half hours. "I'd appreciate it if airlines would notify passengers ahead of delays. So then, we don't have to leave home and be stranded at the airport for three to four hours," Olito expressed her exasperation. "I think it's time to hire a new, more experienced staff," she added confidently.
According to sources, the Newark airport has been grappling with staffing shortages for years, exacerbated by fiendishly grueling schedules and a mystifying age limit. This perfect storm of discontent has culminated in a large chunk of air traffic controllers downing tools, crippling the airport.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation unveiled fresh incentives to recruit and retain air traffic controllers, hoping to quell the ongoing labour shortage plaguing the Federal Aviation Administration. However, the latest measures aim to ease the advisory shortage rather than permanently addressing the root cause.
As the summer travel season unfolds, Newark airport's woes mark the latest chapter in a series of challenges the airport has faced. Last July, the FAA shifted a key control facility away from Long Island to Philadelphia in an attempt to attract new hires to the demanding facility. The airport is also undergoing a costly runway rehabilitation project until mid-June, complicating matters further.
In times like these, it's essential for travelers to remain adaptable and pack their patience, as delays are expected to persist until mid-June, particularly during inclement weather or peak traffic hours.
CNN's Taylor Romine, Zoe Sottile, and Leigh Waldman contribute to this report.
- The unusual turbulence at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey is primarily due to staffing issues within the FAA, as seen in the delays experienced on both Saturday and last Friday.
- The chaotic conditions at Newark Airport, which have led to average delays of over three hours for some flights, have been a recurring problem since Monday, with the Ground Delay Program announcing delays averaging more than two hours on Friday.
- United Airlines' CEO, Scott Kirby, has mentioned that the staffing issues at Newark Airport are exacerbated by over 20% of the FAA controllers for EWR walking off the job, which has resulted in the airline cutting 35 daily round-trip flights from their Newark schedule.
- The ongoing air traffic controller staffing shortages at Newark Airport have been a long-standing issue, compounded by grueling schedules and a peculiar age limit, leading to a significant number of controllers stepping down, adversely impacting the airport's operations.
- In light of the ongoing labor shortage at the Federal Aviation Administration, the Department of Transportation has unveiled new incentives to attract and retain air traffic controllers, hoping to alleviate the current situation, but not permanently solve the root cause of the problem.
