On Friday morning, passengers at Newark Liberty International Airport again faced delays exceeding 90 minutes, continuing a series of disruptions that have been ongoing for several days. These issues are caused by a combination of factors: prolonged construction of the runway, a shortage of air traffic controllers, and technical failures in equipment.
On Thursday, some flights were delayed by more than five hours, and the runway was filled with lines of planes waiting to take off. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily announced, then canceled, a ground stop, but this still slowed traffic in and out of the airport.
"This definitely is discouraging me right now," said traveler Henry Adamson in an interview with CBS News. "Before I arrived at the airport, the delay was already four hours. Then, as soon as we arrived here, I see the delay is another two hours. And I don't know if it will be delayed even more," shared traveler Elmer Beltran.
The FAA noted that the staffing shortage is linked to the air traffic control center in Philadelphia, which manages the airspace over Newark. Across the country, about 3,000 controllers are missing, and US Transportation Secretary Shawn Duffy stated that next week he will announce a new plan for infrastructure and equipment modernization.
Meanwhile, travelers are advised to check the status of their flight before heading to the airport. Airlines, including United Airlines, offer rebooking options or ticket cancellations but do not cover hotel expenses.
Delays and cancellations at Newark highlight deeper issues within the US air traffic management system that require immediate attention.
