FAA staffing issues, runway repairs force hundreds of flight cancellations, delays at Newark airport
Newark Liberty International Airport warned travelers about possible delays and cancellations on social media
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on the FAA, air traffic control modernization
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy discusses the Federal Aviation Administration and air traffic control modernization in an exclusive interview.
Delays and cancellations are piling up again Friday at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in Newark, New Jersey, due to air traffic control staffing shortages and construction on one of three runways.
As of Friday, more than 200 flights were delayed at Newark and around 20 were canceled, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware. The airport also is "currently experiencing inbound flights delayed at their origin an average of 1 hours 32 minutes," it added.
Over 500 flights in and out of Newark were delayed on Thursday, and more than 200 flights were canceled.
"Due to FAA staffing issues and construction #EWR is experiencing delays. Please contact your airline for the status of your flight," the airport posted on X.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FIRING HUNDREDS OF FAA WORKERS
Newark Liberty International Airport suffered major delays and cancellations on Thursday due to FAA staffing shortages and runway construction. (Getty Images)
One X user asked Thursday when the construction was expected to be complete, and the airport responded, saying, "One of our runways is closed for necessary repairs from now until mid-June 2025."
Another X user asked why Newark has staffing issues, "every single day."
"Good afternoon," the airport responded. "Due to ongoing FAA staffing challenges, EWR is experiencing operational disruptions. Please check your flight status with your airline."
UNITED AIRLINES CEO SAYS FAA NEEDS TO FIX 3 THINGS: AMERICANS DESERVE ‘MUCH BETTER’
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) headquarters in Washington, D.C. (J. David Ake/Getty Images / Getty Images)
The FAA did not respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comments on staffing shortages and travel disruptions.
Still, the disruptions appear to be a growing trend at Newark International.
On Monday, the FAA said a series of issues prompted it to dramatically slow traffic at the airport, prompting United Airlines to divert at least 35 flights to other airports.
United – which is the largest carrier at the airport located just outside New York City – told Reuters that an FAA equipment malfunction caused a significant disruption.
ELON MUSK EXPECTED TO HELP IMPROVE 'REALLY OUTDATED' FAA FUNCTIONS, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY DETAILS
A United Airlines passenger jet takes off from Newark Liberty International Airport. (Reuters/Chris Helgren/File Photo / Reuters Photos)
The equipment failure, the FAA told the wire service, was prompted by telecommunications and radar equipment issues at Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control, which guides aircraft in and out of Newark. Both issues were resolved, though staffing issues at Philadelphia continued to impact flights, the FAA said.
AIRLINES URGE CONGRESS TO SUPPORT AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL HIRING, MODERNIZE FAA
The FAA last year relocated control of the Newark, New Jersey, airspace area to Philadelphia to address staffing and congested New York City area traffic.
It also extended cuts to minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports through October 2025, citing air traffic controller staffing shortages.
Under minimum flight requirements, airlines can lose their takeoff and landing slots at congested airports if they do not use them at least 80% of the time. The FAA's waiver allows airlines to fly fewer flights and still retain slots.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
The FAA is about 3,500 controllers short of targeted staffing. A persistent shortage of controllers has delayed flights and, at many facilities, controllers are working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks.
FOX Business' Greg Norman and Reuters contributed to this report.