DOT to Investigate Newark Delays

Department of Transportation will review the agency’s transfer of Newark airspace responsibilities from New York to Philadelphia.

Jack Daleo

Tuesday, July 29, 2025 at 01:48 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) has been plagued by disruptions since late April. [Wikimedia Commons]

Key Takeaways:

Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR) is experiencing severe delays and cancellations, prompting the U.S. DOT to request an audit of the FAA's handling of its airspace.
Disruptions are primarily caused by chronic air traffic control staffing shortages, aging equipment leading to radar and communications outages, and operational challenges from a recent transfer of control responsibility for Newark.
The FAA and DOT are addressing these issues through initiatives to ramp up controller hiring, a comprehensive modernization plan for outdated ATC equipment, and infrastructure upgrades, as similar systemic problems affect other U.S. airports.

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The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is looking for answers about weeks of severe delays and cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR).

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Monday requested an audit of the FAA’s handling of Newark’s busy airspace, through which more than 24 million passengers flew in 2024, per FAA data. The disruptions are due to a combination of staffing shortages, runway construction, and equipment issues that twice rendered controllers unable to receive communications and radar data for about 90 seconds.