‍DALLAS — United Airlines (UA) has announced significant flight reductions at its Newark Liberty International Airport hub (EWR) amid an unprecedented operational meltdown caused by air traffic control (ATC) staffing issues and technological failures. 

The airline is cutting 35 daily round-trip flights, representing approximately 10% of its EWR operations, in response to what CEO Scott Kirby described as a crisis where over 20% of air traffic controllers responsible for Newark operations reportedly "walked off the job."

The Escalating Newark Airport Crisis

Newark Liberty International Airport has been experiencing severe operational difficulties for an unprecedented five consecutive days, with cascading delays affecting thousands of travelers. According to CNN, the situation began deteriorating on Monday when equipment failures at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) prompted UA to cancel over 100 flights and reroute 37 others. Most dramatically, United Flight 1909 was forced to turn back over Nebraska midway through its journey to Newark and return to San Francisco.

The operational statistics paint a troubling picture of the situation's severity:

• Wednesday: 3% of flights canceled, 44% delayed
• Thursday: 18% of flights canceled, 44% delayed (other reports indicate 20% canceled with over 40% delayed)
• Friday: 2% of flights canceled, 47% delayed

A CNN review revealed that Newark has faced FAA-imposed delays for at least 14 days, indicating persistent challenges beyond the immediate crisis.

Air Traffic Control Staffing Issues

According to United CEO Scott Kirby, over 20% of FAA controllers responsible for Newark operations have "walked off the job" this week, significantly compounding existing staffing shortages, according to OMAAT and The New York Times. This facility, which was moved from Long Island to Philadelphia last summer, has reportedly been "chronically understaffed for years," creating a structural challenge that cannot be quickly resolved.

"Keep in mind, this particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years, and without these controllers, it's now clear - and the FAA tells us - that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead," Kirby stated in his message to customers.

Technology Failures, Infrastructure Challenges

Technological failures within the FAA's systems exacerbated the air traffic control staffing crisis. According to an FAA spokesperson, the Philadelphia control center experienced telecommunications and equipment malfunctions on Monday. FAA Acting Administrator Chris Rocheleau confirmed an ongoing investigation: "We currently have a team on-site conducting an ongoing investigation into the technology and the disruption itself".

Adding to these challenges, one of Newark's three runways was closed on April 15 for maintenance and resurfacing, with plans to reopen by mid-June. While Aidan O'Donnell, the manager of airports at Port Authority New York New Jersey, described this as a "very routine construction project," the combination of runway limitations and air traffic control issues has created a perfect storm of disruptions.

United's Response, Flight Reductions

In response to the ongoing crisis, UA announced it would unilaterally cancel 35 daily round-trip flights from its Newark schedule beginning this weekend. This represents approximately 10% of the carrier's operations at EWR, its second-largest hub, which typically handles around 328 daily round-trip services.

"It's disappointing to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule at Newark, but since there is no way to resolve the near-term structural FAA staffing issues, we feel like there is no other choice to protect our customers," Kirby explained in his message announcing the cancellations, according to Fox Business.

Call for Enhanced Slot Controls

United's CEO also advocates redesigning EWR into a fully slot-controlled Level 3 airport. The airport was previously classified as a Level 3 airport until 2016, when the designation was changed to promote competition. A Level 3 designation would limit the number of flights permitted to operate at the airport.

"We're encouraging them to apply this decisive leadership to the difficult situation they inherited at Newark, too, by designating it as a slot-controlled, Level 3 airport," Kirby stated after discussing the matter with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

Government Response and Future Outlook

The FAA has acknowledged the challenges but has not provided specific details regarding the staffing issues. During a Thursday press briefing, Chris Rocheleau indicated that the White House is working on initiatives to recruit new air traffic controllers.

Kirby noted that the administration has developed "a proposal for a large, systemwide investment in FAA technology, infrastructure and staffing," which he believes is "the only way to solve the systemwide problem" in the medium to long term.

United has been advocating for government intervention at Newark for years. "United has been urging the US government for years to use its authority to effectively limit the number of flights to what the airport can realistically handle," Kirby stated, adding that "past failure to make those changes had led to the circumstances that United and, most importantly, our customers now face.”

Impact on Travelers, Broader Implications

The ongoing disruptions have severely affected thousands of travelers, many of whom have reported missed flights, lengthy tarmac waits, and significant challenges rearranging their travel plans. 

With the busy summer travel season approaching, these issues raise serious concerns about the resilience of the ATC system and its ability to handle increased passenger volumes.

With broader challenges facing the U.S. ATC system, including aging technology, chronic staffing shortages, and the need for comprehensive modernization efforts, this summer travel season is going to be a doozy.

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