Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is grappling with major flight disruptions today, with 343 delays and 115 cancellations, according to live data from FlightAware. The widespread disruption comes amid an escalating air traffic control (ATC) crisis that has forced United Airlines to cut 35 daily round-trip flights from its Newark hub—about 10% of its total EWR operations.
In a letter to employees and stakeholders, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby cited repeated failures of critical FAA equipment and chronic staffing shortages at ATC facilities as the primary reason for the drastic cuts. According to the airline, the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility, which manages Newark’s airspace, has suffered from telecommunications and radar malfunctions since April 28, triggering chaos across United’s network.
“Without these controllers, it is now clear – and the FAA tells us – that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead,” Kirby wrote in the announcement.
The initial wave of disruptions began on April 28 when FAA technical failures led United Airlines to cancel over 100 flights and divert 37 others. As reported by the airline, more than 20% of the air traffic controllers assigned to the Newark area walked off the job during the crisis, compounding the breakdown in operations.
“It’s disappointing to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule at Newark,” Kirby added. “But since there is no way to resolve the near-term structural FAA staffing issues, we feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers.”
The full statement by United Airlines is available here.
Newark Liberty, one of the nation’s busiest airports, continues to face serious operational constraints, and today’s data reflects the ongoing ripple effects of the April breakdown. Travelers are urged to check their flight status frequently, expect possible rebooking delays, and arrive at the airport early to accommodate longer lines and gate changes.
The FAA has yet to release a detailed plan addressing the staffing and technical issues, though it has acknowledged that both factors contributed to the disruption.
Virginia Times will continue to monitor this developing story and provide updates as they unfold.
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