Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.
The FAA has officially reduced flight operations at Newark Liberty International Airport amid more than two weeks of repeated air traffic control system failures, staffing shortages, and widespread flight disruptions that have impacted hundreds of thousands of travelers.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you haven’t had to fly out of Newark in the last two weeks, be thankful. The airport has been plagued by a string of disruptive issues, including multiple air traffic control system outages and severe staffing shortages. These failures, along with a momentary backup system outage, have caused cascading delays, cancellations, and a growing backlog. Amid significant criticism, the FAA has attributed these problems to aging infrastructure and a lack of adequate staffing, with some air traffic controllers reportedly placed on trauma leave due to the stress of repeated system malfunctions.
What’s going on now: In response to another system failure on Sunday morning, the FAA officially moved to reduce the number of flights at Newark. This latest incident—a brief failure of a backup air traffic control system—prompted a 45-minute ground stop and led to delays and cancellations across the board. According to the FAA, more than 200 flights were delayed and at least 80 were canceled on Sunday alone.
In addition to these issues, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also said they were struggling with having air traffic controllers on staff. He said, “We actually have brought down the number of airplanes that come in and leave Newark because… our mission is safety. We lost a few controllers who were stressed out by the first connectivity that we lost last week. And so we have less controllers working the Newark airspace right now.”
This all comes as lawmakers voice growing frustration over the FAA’s handling of the repeated failures at Newark Liberty International Airport. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has been especially vocal, criticizing the FAA for outlining a multi-year timeline to modernize air traffic control systems without addressing short-term fixes.
