Airline CEO reveals why you should think twice before flying into this popular US airport
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If you’re planning a trip through Newark Liberty International Airport anytime soon, you may want to think twice.
In a rare and unsettling move, both the CEO of United Airlines and a veteran air traffic controller have sounded the alarm about serious safety and staffing issues at one of America’s busiest travel hubs.
For travelers—especially those of us who remember when flying felt glamorous and safe—this news is both shocking and deeply concerning.
What’s Going On at Newark Airport?
Passengers traveling through Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey are now facing a seventh consecutive day of delays, following a stark warning from an air traffic controller who said it's "not safe" and urged travelers to "avoid it at all costs."
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby commented last Friday that Newark Airport "cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead."
Citing this concern, United has opted to cancel 35 round-trip flights daily out of Newark.
"We feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers," Kirby explained in a letter to United passengers.
Kirby's statement coincided with a warning from an air traffic controller at Newark, who told NBC News' Tom Costello, “It is not safe."
"It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public," the controller added.
Costello later recounted the conversation on MSNBC: “Really an incredible statement, unsolicited."
"He just said that to me, and separately, ‘Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs,'" the correspondent shared.
Responding to the situation, a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, speaking on behalf of Newark Airport, told The US Sun, “The Port Authority 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 spokesperson added.
The Perfect Storm: Staffing Shortages, Outdated Technology, and Weather Woes
Newark Liberty International Airport handles approximately 1,000 round-trip flights daily.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby outlined the challenges the airline is facing at the busy New Jersey hub.
"Technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed, resulting in dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and canceled flights, and worst of all, thousands of customers with disrupted travel plans," he explained.
United Airlines has long advocated for improvements to the Air Traffic Control system at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
Recently, technology failures that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage flights into Newark caused numerous disruptions, including diverted flights, delays, cancellations, and thousands of disrupted travel plans.
These issues worsened when over 20% of FAA controllers at EWR walked off the job. United emphasized that EWR's air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed, and without sufficient controllers, the airport cannot handle its flight volume.
As a result, United will cancel 35 round-trip flights per day starting this weekend to minimize the impact on customers. CEO Scott Kirby expressed disappointment but stated the decision was necessary due to the ongoing staffing issues with the FAA.
What Are Airlines and the FAA Doing About It?
The weather also led to 4-hour delays for some flights arriving at Newark Airport.
Kirby pointed out that Newark's air traffic control facility has been "chronically understaffed for years."
He further claimed that over 20% of the airport's air traffic controllers have recently "walked off the job."
In an effort to attract new recruits, the secretary offered $5,000 bonuses to those willing to take on the challenging role of air traffic controller.
Source: CBS New York / Youtube.
Last July, the FAA even relocated a key ATC facility for Newark from Long Island, New York, to Philadelphia in the hopes of encouraging new hires to work there.
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the ongoing issues with the nation’s air traffic control system.
"You're starting to see cracks in the system," he said during a news conference last week.
Duffy added, “It’s our job to actually see over the horizon what the issues are and fix it before there is an incident that we will seriously regret."
He also admitted that Newark's air traffic system is "incredibly old," according to CNN.
"We use floppy disks. We use copper wires,” he said. “The system that we’re using is not effective to control the traffic that we have in the airspace today."
Currently, there is a national shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers, Duffy reported.
These concerns have been amplified following the January crash of a military helicopter into an American Airlines passenger plane near Washington, DC, which killed 67 people.
Source: Eyewitness News ABC7NY / Youtube.
The incident highlighted staffing issues, as it was revealed that one controller was handling the duties of two workers at the time of the crash.
Have you experienced delays or issues at Newark or other major airports recently? Do you have tips for navigating travel disruptions, or questions about air travel safety? Share your stories, advice, and concerns in the comments below!
In a rare and unsettling move, both the CEO of United Airlines and a veteran air traffic controller have sounded the alarm about serious safety and staffing issues at one of America’s busiest travel hubs.
For travelers—especially those of us who remember when flying felt glamorous and safe—this news is both shocking and deeply concerning.
What’s Going On at Newark Airport?
Passengers traveling through Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey are now facing a seventh consecutive day of delays, following a stark warning from an air traffic controller who said it's "not safe" and urged travelers to "avoid it at all costs."
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby commented last Friday that Newark Airport "cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead."
Citing this concern, United has opted to cancel 35 round-trip flights daily out of Newark.
"We feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers," Kirby explained in a letter to United passengers.
The CEO of United Airlines has warned travelers to avoid Newark Liberty International Airport due to ongoing safety concerns and significant flight cancellations. Image source: Artur Tumasjan / Unsplash.
Kirby's statement coincided with a warning from an air traffic controller at Newark, who told NBC News' Tom Costello, “It is not safe."
"It is not a safe situation right now for the flying public," the controller added.
Costello later recounted the conversation on MSNBC: “Really an incredible statement, unsolicited."
"He just said that to me, and separately, ‘Don’t fly into Newark. Avoid Newark at all costs,'" the correspondent shared.
Responding to the situation, a spokesperson for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, speaking on behalf of Newark Airport, told The US Sun, “The Port Authority 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 spokesperson added.
The Perfect Storm: Staffing Shortages, Outdated Technology, and Weather Woes
Newark Liberty International Airport handles approximately 1,000 round-trip flights daily.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby outlined the challenges the airline is facing at the busy New Jersey hub.
"Technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed, resulting in dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and canceled flights, and worst of all, thousands of customers with disrupted travel plans," he explained.
Air traffic controllers at Newark have described the situation as unsafe, urging the public not to fly there, citing chronic understaffing and outdated technology. Image source: Eyewitness News ABC7NY / Youtube.
United Airlines has long advocated for improvements to the Air Traffic Control system at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).
Recently, technology failures that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage flights into Newark caused numerous disruptions, including diverted flights, delays, cancellations, and thousands of disrupted travel plans.
These issues worsened when over 20% of FAA controllers at EWR walked off the job. United emphasized that EWR's air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed, and without sufficient controllers, the airport cannot handle its flight volume.
As a result, United will cancel 35 round-trip flights per day starting this weekend to minimize the impact on customers. CEO Scott Kirby expressed disappointment but stated the decision was necessary due to the ongoing staffing issues with the FAA.
What Are Airlines and the FAA Doing About It?
The weather also led to 4-hour delays for some flights arriving at Newark Airport.
Kirby pointed out that Newark's air traffic control facility has been "chronically understaffed for years."
He further claimed that over 20% of the airport's air traffic controllers have recently "walked off the job."
In an effort to attract new recruits, the secretary offered $5,000 bonuses to those willing to take on the challenging role of air traffic controller.
Source: CBS New York / Youtube.
Last July, the FAA even relocated a key ATC facility for Newark from Long Island, New York, to Philadelphia in the hopes of encouraging new hires to work there.
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the ongoing issues with the nation’s air traffic control system.
"You're starting to see cracks in the system," he said during a news conference last week.
Duffy added, “It’s our job to actually see over the horizon what the issues are and fix it before there is an incident that we will seriously regret."
He also admitted that Newark's air traffic system is "incredibly old," according to CNN.
"We use floppy disks. We use copper wires,” he said. “The system that we’re using is not effective to control the traffic that we have in the airspace today."
Currently, there is a national shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers, Duffy reported.
These concerns have been amplified following the January crash of a military helicopter into an American Airlines passenger plane near Washington, DC, which killed 67 people.
Source: Eyewitness News ABC7NY / Youtube.
The incident highlighted staffing issues, as it was revealed that one controller was handling the duties of two workers at the time of the crash.
Have you experienced delays or issues at Newark or other major airports recently? Do you have tips for navigating travel disruptions, or questions about air travel safety? Share your stories, advice, and concerns in the comments below!
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