FAA to Meet Airlines Over Newark Flight Cuts Amid Rising Delays and Staffing Woes

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will meet with major airlines on Wednesday to discuss potential temporary flight reductions at Newark Liberty International Airport. The move comes in response to ongoing flight disruptions caused by air traffic controller shortages, runway construction, and equipment failures.

Since April 28, Newark has experienced hundreds of delayed flights, with some delays exceeding five hours. United Airlines, the airport’s largest carrier, has already reduced its daily flights by over 30%, from 440 to 293, due to these disruptions. Last week, United slashed an additional 10% of its Newark flights, citing operational strain.

A recent 90-second communications outage at the Philadelphia air traffic facility—which manages Newark's airspace—was the second such incident in two weeks, highlighting systemic infrastructure and staffing issues. The FAA moved airspace control to Philadelphia last year to ease congestion in the New York City area, but the measure has yet to resolve Newark's persistent problems.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the FAA is working closely with airlines to address the crisis. Meanwhile, United CEO Scott Kirby has urged the FAA to designate Newark as a “slot-controlled” airport. This designation would legally limit the number of flights allowed to take off and land, helping to alleviate congestion and delays.

Lawmakers are pushing for federal investigations and increased funding for Newark, one of the nation’s busiest airports. Airlines are also requesting an extension of relaxed flight requirements at congested NYC-area airports through October 2027, citing ongoing air traffic controller shortages.

The FAA’s upcoming meeting could signal significant changes to air traffic management at Newark, aimed at restoring reliability and easing operational bottlenecks for both airlines and passengers.