Major delays at Newark Liberty Airport roll into sixth day

For the sixth day in a row, air traffic control staffing shortages caused substantial delays for travelers traveling in and out of Newark Airport, just outside of New York City.

The Federal Aviation Administration again delayed planes to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Saturday, blaming personnel. Some inbound planes had average delays of more than three hours early Saturday afternoon.

The delays came a day after United Airlines stated that they will be reducing flights at the airport owing to ongoing equipment and staffing concerns. 

United is cancelling 35 flights each day from Newark.

"It's 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," United CEO Scott Kirby said. "It's disappointing to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule at Newark, 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."

“Keep in mind, this particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years and without these controllers, it’s 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 said in his statement.

Saturday afternoon, several inbound planes were delayed by more than three hours. Departures were delayed by up to 45 minutes.

There have been at least 800 delays and 150 cancellations at Newark since Tuesday.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans to overhaul the decades-old air traffic control system on Friday, promising that specifics will be published this week.

"I'm coming out with a plan that's gonna build a brand new air traffic control system, state of the art, gold plated, envy of the world, touching every phase of the systems that air traffic controllers use. We're gonna lay fiber, we're gonna get new radar, new radios, new ground sensors," Duffy said.

The new staffing-related delays are only the latest in a string of troubles afflicting Newark Airport as the busy summer travel season approaches. Last July, the FAA transferred a critical control station responsible for Newark aviation traffic from Long Island to Philadelphia in an attempt to entice fresh personnel to join the difficult-to-staff operation.