United Airlines is canceling dozens of daily flights to and from Newark Liberty International Airport because the airport “cannot handle the number of planes” coming in and out.
CEO Scott Kirby made the announcement on Friday, citing a staff shortage at the airport’s air traffic control.
“Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead,” Kirby said in a letter to customers. “We feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers.”
Air traffic control issues have plagued Newark in recent weeks, causing major delays. In response, many airport workers walked off the job, exacerbating the problem.
“Technology that FAA air traffic controllers rely on to manage the airplanes coming in and out of Newark airport failed, resulting in dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delayed and canceled flights, and worst of all, thousands of customers with disrupted travel plans,” Kirby said in a statement to customers on Friday.
Kirby blamed a “chronically understaffed” air traffic control facility and a lack of intervention as the root causes.
The airline operates around 300 daily round-trip flights on average.
United, which operates as a major hub there, has long pushed the government to reclassify Newark as a “Level 3” airport, which would allow the FAA to limit the number of scheduled flights based on capacity and infrastructure constraints.
Several factors have contributed to the ongoing air traffic controller shortage in the United States. A 2023 report from the Department of Transportation found that the FAA still faced staffing challenges after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause on training. The report said the FAA “lacks a plan to address” the staffing issues, which “in turn poses a risk to the continuity of air traffic operations.”
Air traffic controllers are also hard to staff because they have specific age requirements. The FAA requires that air traffic controllers retire when they turn 56, and the agency is now only accepting applications from people under the age of 31.
In a call with US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, however, Kirby expressed optimism: “We’re pleased that the new administration has put together a proposal for a large, systemwide investment in FAA technology, infrastructure and staffing,” he said.
Duffy said Thursday the FAA is on track to hire 2,000 new air traffic controllers this year. His plan also includes monetary incentives of up to $10,000 for academy graduates who are assigned to “hard-to-staff” air traffic facilities. The proposal would also provide financial incentives to staff, reward academy graduates, and expand the number of instructors.
“Today’s actions will supercharge the air traffic controller workforce from both retention and hiring side of the equation — bringing us one step closer to reversing decades of staffing declines,” Duffy said in a statement.
Duffy added on X: “We are working to harden the system. But this is why it’s critical that we build an all-new air traffic control system.”
United’s CEO unveiled a three-point plan in March to reduce delays. The plan focused on investing in staffing, technology, and facilities, after the company announced it would cut back on its domestic flight schedule by 4% in July.
Newark Liberty International Airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
