Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), one of the country’s busiest airports, has witnessed delays, cancellations, and passenger inconvenience over the last few weeks. Added to this are insufficient staffing, a consistent flow of construction, inclement weather, and outdated technology, making for a smooth flight-arriving nightmare.
Staffing issues fuel chaos
The most pressing problem at Newark is due to the loss of air traffic control staff following a traumatic incident. On April 28, there was a 90-second loss of radar and radio communication with planes. Although temporary, the event had a lasting impact. According to a statement released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), several controllers of the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON), which handles Newark’s arrivals and departures, have been taking leave to get rid of the mental fatigue.
“These are very skilled jobs, and we can’t quickly replace them,” stated the FAA. “We are actively training new controllers, but there is a lag involved.”
The National Air Traffic Controller Union confirmed to FOX 5 New York that the impacted employees are on medical leave, which may take up to 45 days. The shortage of staff has resulted in severe disruption to flight schedules and added pressure on the remaining staff.
Runway construction exacerbates delays
Borrowing from the chaos, only one runway at Newark Airport is available. The FAA reported that a major runway renovation costing $121 million has shuttered a significant runway through mid-June. The work, which limits capacity and decreases pace in aircraft, adds to delays. With fewer runways available, airplanes are being made to wait longer for takeoff and landing.
Uncooperative weather
Weather conditions have also been responsible for the recent troubles at EWR. Local news has cited frequent low ceilings—cloud layers close to the ground that reduce visibility, leading to increased cancellations and delays. FOX 5 New York forecasted a 15% chance of showers this week, which could still affect air travel in the already troubled New York City metropolitan area.
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Outdated technology compounds the problem
Industry experts have long warned that the U.S. air traffic control system is relying on outdated technology. In a tweet on X, union representative Rich Duffy criticized past and present administrations for failing to invest heavily in modernizing air traffic systems.
$1.2 trillion was invested in infrastructure, and less than 1% of that went into fixing the air traffic control system,” Duffy said. He called the FAA’s existing system “antiquated” and cautioned that not enough upgrades have left major airports such as Newark exposed.
The FAA acknowledged the deficiencies in the current technology and stated that it is trying to meet the requirement for added reliability in the New York metropolitan area by updating equipment and inserting additional redundancy in the telecommunication system.
A perfect storm
The situation at Newark Liberty International Airport is the result of a “perfect storm” of staff shortages, facility problems, foul weather, and outdated systems. Until answers are discovered to these issues in a sweeping way, travelers passing through EWR need to expect continued delays and disruptions.
