United Airlines blames air traffic controller shortages for travel chaos at Newark Airport

In November 2024, Newark Airport, located in New Jersey, experienced significant travel disruptions attributed to a shortage of air traffic controllers. United Airlines revealed that on 12 of the first 25 days of the month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had to restrict traffic flows to accommodate the low staffing levels. This staffing issue affected more than 343,000 travelers, leading to delays, cancellations, longer taxi times, and extended flight durations. On November 15, staffing concerns alone resulted in the cancellation of flights for 1,880 passengers, while an additional 24,558 faced various delays including gate and taxi delays. The FAA has acknowledged the staffing challenges, describing them as a long-standing issue in Newark airspace. To address these problems, the agency had previously transferred 17 air traffic controllers from the New York Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) to Philadelphia in late July, a move aimed at alleviating some of the stress on the New York facility, which is among the busiest in the nation. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stated that this transfer not only improved controller staffing levels in New York but also contributed to a reduction in delays. The chronic controller shortage has forced the FAA to impose six-day work weeks for existing personnel and implement cuts in minimum flight requirements at congested New York City-area airports, which have been extended through October 2025. The FAA aims to tackle a workforce deficit of about 3,000 controllers, emphasizing the necessity to meet normal traffic levels while ensuring safety. As the peak holiday travel season approached, United Airlines stressed the importance of rebuilding FAA staffing levels to secure safe and efficient air travel for its customers. The airline's concerns coincide with rising awareness regarding aviation safety, particularly after a series of near-miss incidents that prompted the FAA to initiate an audit into runway incursion risks at the busiest airports across the United States. This dire situation underscores the operational complexities and challenges faced by air traffic control operations in maintaining a stable aviation infrastructure.