Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced a plan to decrease the number of flights operating in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport for the foreseeable future due to ongoing radar outages and other operational challenges, which most recently caused further disruptions. In an interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press” aired Sunday, Duffy shared that he intends to meet this week with major carriers utilizing New Jersey’s largest airport. He explained the anticipated flight reductions will differ throughout the day, primarily focusing on afternoon hours when international entries make the airport busier.
The airport has been grappling not only with equipment failures but also flight delays and cancellations due to a significant shortage of air traffic controllers. “Our goal is to establish a flight schedule where passengers can be assured that their planes will fly as expected,” Duffy stated. “The priority is to prevent passengers from experiencing extensive waits followed by delays.”
On Sunday, a “telecommunications issue” at a Philadelphia facility responsible for directing traffic to and from Newark was reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), resulting in temporarily slowed air traffic. The FAA noted that air traffic was briefly reduced to verify that backup systems were functioning effectively before returning to normal operations. Infrastructure concerns are becoming an increasing issue at various airports nationwide.
In an unrelated incident, hundreds of flights at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport – one of the busiest airports in the world – faced delays on Sunday due to a runway equipment problem. The FAA, in its response, temporarily reduced arrivals into Atlanta while technicians addressed the situation.
At Newark, Sunday’s disruptions followed a separate radar malfunction at the Philadelphia facility, which went dark for 90 seconds early on Friday morning. The episode mirrored a similar incident on April 28. Recently, the Trump administration proposed an extensive overhaul of the U.S. air traffic control system, advocating for six new centers and significant technological advancements in air traffic facilities over the next several years.
The FAA acknowledges that whenever there are staffing or equipment challenges, they slow the arrival rate at Newark to maintain safety. The agency also mentioned that repeated equipment and communication failures cause stress, prompting some air traffic controllers to take necessary breaks to recover.
Since mid-April, Newark has averaged 34 flight cancellations daily, with delays progressively increasing throughout the day from about five in the morning to 16 by evening, with delay times ranging between 85 to 137 minutes.
Addressing the challenge of a workforce shortage, Duffy proposed increasing the mandatory retirement age for air traffic controllers from 56 to 61, emphasizing a need to fill the gap of about 3,000 positions. He also proposed offering a 20% upfront bonus to those continuing their roles, though many controllers retire after 25 years of service, around age 50. “Immediate resolutions are rare,” Duffy commented. “It will take time and strategic planning to bring in new talent and retain experienced staff.”
Increasing air traffic controllers contrasts the Trump administration’s aim of reducing federal jobs in most other agencies. Nevertheless, United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” commended Duffy for safeguarding FAA safety functions from budget cuts by the Trump Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Kirby stated that United has already cut back its flight schedule at Newark and anticipates further reductions following a meeting with Duffy this week. The capacity cuts are anticipated to continue until mid-June, aligning with the expected completion of construction work on one of Newark’s runways, though some cuts could extend into the summer. “We have prioritized safety, with fewer flights ensuring planes land safely,” Kirby said. “While safety remains my main concern, customer delays and their impact are troubling.”