Explainer
The Ministry of Transport has called for airports to cut operations to 56 departures and arrivals per hour. This could have a major impact on travelers and airlines using that airport.
To alleviate the wave of cancellations and delays at Newar Liberty International Airport, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is limiting the number of arrivals and departures per hour to reduce congestion in the near future.
The Department of Transport is calling for airports, the main hub of United Airlines serving New York City, to cut departures and arrivals by 77 to 56 per hour. This change could have a major impact on air travelers and airlines that rely on airports.
Newark faces many challenges that have hindered air traffic and led to this dramatic change. These include a shortage of air traffic controllers, glitches in radio and radar systems, and ongoing runway construction. The FAA says daily construction will end on June 15th. Then it only happens on Saturdays until the end of the year. During the non-construction period, operations increase to 68 arrivals and departures per hour.
Radar and radio glitches
The Newark issue cascade began on April 28th, when air traffic controllers at the Philadelphia-based facility monitored traffic heading to Newar Liberty, with both radio and radar lost with the plane for 90 seconds. A similar incident occurred early on May 9th in Newark itself (lasting for 90 seconds). Another incident occurred on May 11th, with a short two-second stop following Monday.
In OP-ED, the only air traffic controller working on May 9 told The Times Of London newspaper, “it was only the time before the fatal crash.”
NBC News said at least eight similar incidents occurred before the August and April events, citing unnamed sources.
Newark is not just a US airport facing glitches. Last week, an air traffic controller in Denver, Colorado also lost contact with the plane for 90 seconds, affecting 20 different pilots. Denver, like Newark, is a United Airlines hub.
Last Monday, after the Newark incident, the New York Times reported that only three flights passed through Newark area airspace during the age of 14.
As a result of the incident, 20% of air traffic controllers were on trauma leave citing the event itself, the use of outdated equipment and years of staffing shortages. United CEO framed it as an air traffic controller “off-work.” The controller is entitled to a 45-day paid trauma leave.
Air traffic control in the New York area is chronically understaffed. The 2023 Department of Transport Report (PDF) found that staffing levels were dangerously low in 20 of 26 important US air traffic control facilities. The FAA requires that at least 85% of the controller positions be met to maintain safe operation. The New Yorker Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility operated at just 54%. In 2024, management of Newark’s approach business moved to Philadelphia. This move exacerbated the shortage of certified controllers as there were few Philadelphia staff members.
The FAA said it is in the process of strengthening staffing efforts.
“The Philadelphia Tracon area, which handles Newark Traffic, has 22 fully certified controllers and 21 controllers and supervisors trained. Of the 21 controllers and supervisors, 10 are job-trained. All 10 are certified in at least one position, and three are certified in multiple positions.
“Committee Duffy hired and built the top priorities of a new, cutting-edge air traffic system for air traffic controllers.”
What does this mean for travelers?
Lower capacity means fewer flights to major hubs. United Airlines, which accounts for 75% of Newark’s daily traffic, announced last week it would cancel 35 round-trip flights per day.
“Reducing the number of flights scheduled in Newark was an aggressive cut in our schedule earlier this month to ensure that flights remaining in our schedule can be operated safely and reliably.”
United serves 76 US destinations and 81 international destinations from Newark. The airline told Al Jazeera that the affected flights are mostly in cities that already have high-frequency services, such as Orlando and Las Vegas.
United said it is possible to easily re-register customers on other flights, and flyers that normally pass through Newark can use alternative hubs like Washington Dulles.
Despite the cuts, United will launch new services to 10 destinations this summer, including two flights launched last week.
For those traveling from New York or from New York, there are alternatives. The city also offers Lagardia Airport, a domestic hub for the US and Delta, and John F. Kennedy International Airport, a major base for US, Delta and JetBlue Airlines.