Newark Liberty International Airport and its aging infrastructure have been in the headlines for weeks. If you’re a frequent flier or planning summer travel with your family, you’ve likely been concerned about your upcoming flight plans.
Three air traffic control equipment outages over the last few weeks, construction on a runway, and a shortage of air traffic controllers have created a perfect storm of delays, cancellations, and questions around air travel safety at the airport. Here’s what we know so far:
What’s Causing the Problems at Newark Airport?
Runway Construction
One of Newark’s two longest runways is closed for reconstruction. This project, which is scheduled to be completed sometime in June, has caused a reduction in flights (United has canceled about 35 flights daily), plus a bunch of delays and cancellations.
Air Traffic Equipment Failures
Since April, there have been three separate blackouts in radar and radio communications at Newark. That means air traffic controllers were unable to communicate with pilots or track planes for as many as 90 seconds each time. Some experts say the blackouts are linked to aging infrastructure and or weak connections with FAA facilities in New York and Philadelphia.
Shortage of Air Traffic Controllers
The FAA has acknowledged that U.S. airspace is short at least 3,000 air traffic controllers nationwide, according to a statement from Gov. Phil Murphy on May 5. Newark Airport has been hit especially hard.
United Airlines Flight Cuts
United Airlines, Newark’s largest carrier, recently reduced its daily schedule by nearly three dozen flights due to reduced capacity at the airport caused by construction and staff shortages.
What Officials Are Saying
At a press conference earlier this week, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the FAA has convened a “delay reduction task force” to potentially cap the number of flights in and out of Newark.
In a message to MileagePlus members emailed on Monday, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby tried to reassure travelers, saying that when there are FAA issues, such as technology outages or staffing shortages, the FAA requires all airlines to fly fewer planes for safety reasons.
In a letter to Transportation Secretary Duffy, Governor Murphy asked the federal government to speed up investment and repairs at Newark Airport. “Decades of underinvestment… and inadequate staffing have resulted in a frail system nationwide,” Murphy wrote. “I urge you to prioritize the region … and develop a plan to address chronic staffing shortages.”
Complicating things even further is the looming threat of a possible NJ Transit rail strike, which would severely impact transit to and from the airport and New York City. A dispute between NJ Transit’s management and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen may result in a strike on Friday. The strike deadline is Friday, May 16, at 12:01 a.m. If no agreement is reached, train service in NJ could be suspended.
Airport Alternatives
If you’re looking for other options for air travel beyond the obvious ones (JFK, LaGuardia and Philadelphia International airports), you may want to consider one of these airports:
- Trenton-Mercer Airport
- Atlantic City International Airport
- Westchester County Airport
For the latest updates, check these sites:
–Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Newsroom Statements on Newark Airport
Airport Status Information
–U.S. Department of Transportation
–Port Authority NY/NJ
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