FAA Announces New Measures to Address Newark Airport Disruptions

Agency says severe delays and cancellations are driven by staffing shortages, equipment issues, and ongoing runway construction.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, May 07, 2025 at 01:43 PM ET

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Jack Daleo

An air traffic control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport [Credit: Wikimedia Commons]

Key Takeaways:

Newark Liberty International Airport is experiencing severe, weeks-long disruptions due to air traffic controller staffing shortages, critical equipment failures at the Philadelphia TRACON controlling its airspace, and ongoing runway construction.
The FAA is implementing immediate measures to address these issues, including technological upgrades (e.g., fiberoptic replacements) and increased staffing at the Philadelphia TRACON.
These local problems highlight a broader national crisis of over 3,000 air traffic controller vacancies and an "incredibly old" air traffic control system still relying on outdated technology.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is scheduled to announce a new, "state-of-the-art air traffic control infrastructure plan" to modernize the nation's aviation system.

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The FAA on Wednesday announced it is taking “immediate steps” to alleviate severe disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport (KEWR).

After a tumultuous weekend that saw 951 delays and 226 cancellations, per data from FlightAware, the airport on Monday entered its second week of operational challenges. On Tuesday alone it recorded another 374 delays and 150 cancellations. Flight activity at the airport over the past seven days is down 23 percent compared to the same week last year.