In response to severe air traffic control staffing shortages and recent equipment failures at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), United Airlines is making some significant changes. The airline is set to cut approximately 35 daily round-trip flights from its EWR hub, representing about 10% of its operations there. This decision was made following disruptions caused by critical technology failures used by FAA air traffic controllers at the airport. The outages resulted in numerous flight diversions, delays, and cancellations, causing chaos for thousands of travelers.

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby expressed his disappointment regarding the situation, highlighting the chronic understaffing at the air traffic control facility over the years. Kirby emphasized the challenges Newark Airport faces in handling its scheduled flights due to the lack of controllers. With more than 20% of air traffic controllers at Newark walking off the job, the airline saw no other choice but to reduce flights to protect its customers.

According to Kirby, “This particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years, and without these controllers, it is 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.” The decision to cut flights comes after a week of operational disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport, with equipment failures at the FAA leading to flight cancellations and diversions.

The issues stemmed from malfunctions in telecommunications and radar equipment at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), which oversees air traffic for Newark Airport. These incidents, combined with staffing shortages at TRACON, contributed to the flight disruptions at EWR. While it is regrettable to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule, United Airlines is prioritizing the safety and convenience of its passengers amid these challenges. Stay updated on the latest aviation news at Pilotcenter.net News!