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 and prolonged disruptions, including widespread delays and cancellations, primarily due to air traffic controller staffing shortages, critical equipment failures at the Philadelphia TRACON, and ongoing runway construction.
The FAA is implementing immediate measures to address these challenges, focusing on technological upgrades (such as fiber optic communications and a new STARS hub) and increasing staffing at the Philadelphia TRACON.
A dangerous incident where controllers at the Philadelphia TRACON temporarily lost radar and communications with aircraft highlighted the urgency of the issues, leading some controllers to take leave.
Beyond immediate fixes, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to announce a comprehensive plan to modernize the nation's "incredibly old" air traffic control system with a new, state-of-the-art infrastructure.

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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.