Travel isn’t getting any easier at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). As mass delays cascade into a second week, airlines are offering passengers flexibility to change flights throughout much of May.
And it’s not clear when the disruptions might end.
Flight troubles ramped up last week following an outage of critical air traffic control equipment at the Philadelphia facility that governs EWR’s airspace. Then, in the wake of that disruption, the Federal Aviation Administration said a large number of controllers went on leave — worsening an existing staffing shortage.
The combined problems have fueled mass delays at the airport — particularly for United Airlines, the dominant carrier at Newark, which said Friday it would indefinitely remove dozens of daily flights from its key New York-area hub.
And with construction closing off a key runway — and spring and summer thunderstorms routinely throwing a wrench in the airport’s tightly packed flight schedule — the problems seem likely to plague passengers well into the busy summer travel season.
Flight disruptions cascade
Thousands of flights in and out of EWR have been affected by the disruptions dating back to last week. After a messy week that also upended travel plans on Saturday and Sunday, Newark on Monday saw close to half of all inbound planes face delays, according to data from FlightAware.
A day later, on Tuesday, the FAA at one point reported average delays at the airport sat at around four hours.
Hundreds of additional flights have been canceled over the past week.
United hit hardest
That includes 35 daily round trips from United, after CEO Scott Kirby on Friday announced the carrier would reduce its flying at the airport in hopes of preventing customers from facing even more significant disruptions.
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In a letter to customers, Kirby referenced long-standing air traffic control staffing shortages, which, as TPG reported in February, have the FAA short-staffed by thousands of fully certified controllers.
“The long-simmering FAA challenges boiled over this week,” Kirby wrote, citing recent equipment failures and noting that 20% of controllers “walked off the job” in recent days.
Air traffic controllers take leave after ‘multiple recent outages’
In fact, the FAA on Monday confirmed that some controllers had taken time off from work to recover from the stress “of multiple recent outages.”
That included a temporary loss of radar and communications last Monday at the FAA’s key Philadelphia facility charged with directing the flow of air traffic at EWR, which left controllers “unable to see, hear or talk to” aircraft under their control, the nation’s top air traffic controllers union told TPG.
“The controllers did not ‘walk off the job,'” the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in a statement, noting that air traffic controllers instead took leave under a policy that protects federal workers.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy has advocated for overhauling the nation’s air traffic control infrastructure and upping its controller hiring efforts — and this week said the Trump administration would announce new air traffic control reforms Thursday.
“It’s unacceptable,” Duffy wrote on social media last week about the recent outages. “We are working to harden the system. But this is why it’s critical that we build an all-new air traffic control system.”
Newark disruptions persist
“However,” McCormick warned, “It would be very frustrating for passengers.”
United issues travel waivers
Travelers with trips already booked to, from or through Newark have some options to make changes.
That flexibility extended even to ordinarily restrictive basic economy tickets.
JetBlue is waiving change and cancellation fees for Newark travelers through the month of May. We should note, the carrier actually has its largest New York-region presence at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Should you book flights to or from Newark?
So, what should customers do amid those concerns about delays at Newark?
Pick a different connecting airport
Plan proactively: Nonstop and early flights
If I were going to fly through Newark right now, I’d plan proactively.
Book with a credit card that has travel insurance
That’s where a credit card that has travel insurance protections can come in handy, by allowing you to claim reimbursement for unexpected costs due to a travel disruption.
Just remember: Typically, you have to book your trip with that card in order to make a successful claim.
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