NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Flight delays and cancellations continued Monday at Newar Liberty International Airport, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer called for an investigation into the “chaos” caused by a shortage of air traffic controllers and a thick cloud cover.
Schumer, a Democrat from New York, said he hopes inspectors will investigate delays and cancellations to prevent them from getting worse or spreading. New Jersey Democrat Gov. Phil Murphy called the delay “completely and completely unacceptable” in the X post, saying Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is “committed” to hire more air traffic controllers.
Delays at busy airports outside New York City made headlines over the weekend as United said it cut 35 flights daily from its schedule.
As of Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration attributed nearly four hours of flight delays to arriving at the combination of staffing and cloud cover.
This takes a closer look at what you know about delays.
What’s behind Newark’s delay?
FAA officials said in a statement Monday that the controller who works at the Philadelphia-based facility that coordinates its return and trip to Newark has taken time “to recover from the stress of recent multiple outages.”
“We cannot immediately replace this highly specialized profession, but we continue to train controllers that will ultimately be allocated to this busy airspace,” the FAA statement said.
The airport was also faced with chaos last week.
United CEO Scott Kirby said in a letter to customers over the weekend that the technology used to manage planes at New Jersey Airport has failed more than a few days recently.
He said that when more than a fifth of Newark traffic controllers were “walking from work,” delays in flight, cancellations and detours were aggravated.
United Airlines has cut 35 flights daily from its Newark schedule since last Saturday.
Messages seeking comment remained with the Air Traffic Controllers Union, which oversees the FAA, and the Federal Department of Transport.
What is the broader problem with air traffic control?
The Trump administration has said that “outdated” air traffic control systems need to be fixed.
The administration says it is trying to “charge” the air traffic controllers’ workforce and is trying to address the country’s lack of controllers. Last week, Duffy announced a program that recruited new controllers and offered incentives not to leave existing controllers.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a trade union, said at the time that these moves would help address the staffing shortages, but said the system was “long postponed due to technology and infrastructure upgrades.”
Uncertainty while playing?
United’s decision to regain its flight schedule in Newark is already in an uncertain period for US airlines. Potential clients across the industry are rethinking whether to fly for work or for vacation given all the unknowns about what President Donald Trump’s trade war will do for the economy.
With so much uncertainty, United recently made the extraordinary move to provide two separate forecasts on how to perform financially this year.
United will fly from Newark to 76 US cities and 81 international destinations.
Original issue: May 5, 2025, 3:39pm EDT
