Radar Failure at Newark Spurs United Flight Cuts
Last week, air traffic controllers overseeing flights in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport lost both radar and communications for nearly 90 seconds, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said, triggering widespread delays and raising alarm over the nation’s aging air-traffic infrastructure. On April 28, controllers found themselves unable to track or speak with aircraft under their control, according to the union. The abrupt equipment failure forced controllers to rely on backup procedures, slowing traffic to a crawl and sending ripple effects across the New York metro area’s busiest airspace.
In the aftermath, more than 1,500 flights experienced delays or diversions, FlightAware data show, as Philadelphia’s Terminal Radar Approach Control struggled to manage Newark’s load amid the outage. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that some affected controllers have since taken time off under federal compensation rules to recover from the stress of repeated system failures. “Our antiquated air traffic control system is affecting our workforce,” the agency said, pledging to install more resilient and redundant telecommunications configurations in the New York area.
United Airlines, which operates roughly 350 daily departures from Newark, announced it will proactively remove 35 round trips per day—about 10 percent of its Newark schedule—to create slack in the system and shield passengers from further disruptions. CEO Scott Kirby wrote to customers that last week’s technology issues were compounded by the sudden absence of over 20 percent of Newark’s controller workforce. While United characterized the staffing gap as a walk-off, the controller union clarified that workers instead filed for leave under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act after experiencing a traumatic on-the-job event.
The crisis at Newark reflects a broader, years-long controller shortage nationwide. FAA records show that roughly 20 percent of all federal air traffic controller positions remain unfilled, even as a mandatory retirement age of 56 thins veteran ranks. Last year, in an effort to relieve congestion, the FAA moved Newark approach duties from a Long Island facility to TRACON in Philadelphia, but the shift has failed to stabilize staffing levels or prevent recurring outages in the region’s congested corridor.
State and local officials have joined calls for accelerated investment in both technology and staffing. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy urged Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to prioritize resources for the Philadelphia and New York facilities that route traffic to Newark, LaGuardia and JFK. With millions of additional travelers expected for next year’s World Cup finals, Murphy stressed in a letter that the region cannot tolerate further strains on its air-traffic ecosystem. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey likewise pressed the FAA to modernize Newark’s approach controls, warning that billions spent on runway and terminal improvements will ring hollow without a fully staffed, up-to-date federal control system.
Secretary Duffy, fresh from a tour of the Philadelphia control center, said he will unveil plans for an all-new, digitally enabled air-traffic system designed to handle today’s traffic volumes more effectively. He acknowledged that while safety margins remain intact—controllers will ground flights if necessary—passenger convenience and airline schedules have suffered under the load. With runway maintenance and seasonal weather adding to recent snarls, aviation stakeholders are bracing for further adjustments. In the interim, travelers using Newark should prepare for schedule changes, and carriers like United are recalibrating operations to await more dependable infrastructure.
Related News : https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/airline-finance/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, cnbc.com