United Airlines Cuts 35 Daily Flights at Newark Airport Due to Shortage of Air Traffic Controllers: ‘FAA Staffing Issues’

• United Airlines is slicing 35 day by day flights from Newark Liberty International Airport in line with FAA staffing problems
• The airline’s CEO mentioned the airport can’t “handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate” for the foreseeable long run
• “Since there is not any method to get to the bottom of the near-term structural FAA staffing problems, we really feel like there is not any different selection so as to give protection to our shoppers,” United CEO Scott Kirby mentioned

The CEO of United Airlines has introduced plans to cancel 35 day by day roundtrip flights from Newark Liberty International Airport to “protect” shoppers — beginning this weekend — following “FAA staffing issues.”

On Saturday, May 3, FlightAware reported 800 delays and 150 cancellations on the airport since Tuesday, in keeping with CBS News. Newark attributed delays on Thursday to “FAA staffing issues and construction” in a remark on X, including that one runway is closed for “necessary repairs from now until mid-June 2025.”

In a remark to PEOPLE, a Port Authority of New York and New Jersey spokesperson mentioned it has “invested billions to modernize Newark Liberty, but those improvements depend on a fully staffed and modern federal air traffic system.”

“We continue to urge the FAA to address ongoing staffing shortages and accelerate long-overdue technology upgrades that continue to cause delays in the nation’s busiest air corridor,” the remark persevered.

The staffing problems stem from an operations middle in Philadelphia, in keeping with a file from MSNBC. In a remark to the hole, one air visitors controller for Newark mentioned that “things need to change,” calling it “not a safe situation for the flying public.”

Now, United CEO Scott Kirby has mentioned in a remark that the airline is slicing lots of its Newark flights after the “long-simmering FAA challenges” had “boiled over this week.” Specifically, “technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed” on a couple of events, in keeping with Kirby.

“Unfortunately, the technology issues were compounded as over 20% of the FAA controllers for EWR walked off the job,” Kirby wrote. “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.”

“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,” he added.

When reached for remark, a spokesperson for the FAA directed PEOPLE to a submit on X, wherein it said it “will continue to be transparent with the public about the status of EWR and every airport” by way of its web site.

Citing the Federal Aviation Administration, CBS News studies that some arriving Saturday afternoon flights had been not on time greater than 3 hours at Newark, whilst departures had been not on time as much as 45 mins.

United Airlines operates probably the most flights out of Newark, in keeping with the Associated Press.

The commute considerations come as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy introduced a brand new program to recruit new controllers and be offering an incentive bundle to retain controllers 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 mentioned, in keeping with CBS News.

Never omit a tale — join PEOPLE’s loose day by day e-newsletter to stick up-to-date on the most efficient of what PEOPLE has to provide​​, from famous person information to forcing human hobby tales.

Travelers at Newark spoke with CBS News about delays and commute considerations, with flyer Lisa Tarter calling it “frustrating when you are hoping for a seamless and smooth day.”

“We had to wait two hours in Los Angeles to even board the plane, and they weren’t sure even then when they told us two hours. It was horrible,” every other girl mentioned.

Citing FlightAware, the hole famous that the delays have ripple results and feature additionally impacted vacationers in Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, Miami, Dallas and past.