United Airlines Slashes Newark Schedule Amid FAA Staffing Crisis and Technology Failures

United Airlines has announced a significant reduction to its daily flight schedule at Newark Liberty International Airport, citing deepening operational strain caused by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staffing shortages and persistent technology breakdowns.

Effective this weekend, the carrier will cancel 35 roundtrip flights per day, equating to 10% of United’s total daily operations at its key New Jersey hub. The move comes in the wake of a week marked by over 1,400 delays and cancellations, stranding thousands of passengers and prompting widespread frustration across terminals.

Mounting Disruptions Spark Urgent Measures

By Friday afternoon, more than 300 flights had already been delayed in and out of Newark, according to data from FlightAware. The cumulative impact has drawn sharp criticism from United’s top executive.

“It’s disappointing to make further cuts to an already reduced schedule at Newark,” said Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines, in a public note to customers. “But since there is no way to resolve the near-term structural FAA staffing issues, we feel like there is no other choice in order to protect our customers.”

Kirby confirmed the schedule reductions will take effect over the weekend, aimed at mitigating cascading delays and restoring some level of operational stability.

Air Traffic Controller Walkouts, Technology Lapses Blamed

Kirby revealed that nearly 20% of air traffic controllers assigned to Newark have recently “walked off the job” following a series of technical failures. He added that the FAA has acknowledged the airport can no longer support its current flight volume under existing conditions.

“This particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years,” Kirby stated. “Without these controllers, it’s now clear that Newark cannot handle the number of planes scheduled to operate in the weeks and months ahead.”

The FAA, in its advisory Friday, conceded that staffing constraints were affecting flight operations. A specific response to Kirby’s allegations, however, was not immediately provided.

Pressure Mounts on FAA and Transportation Department

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy weighed in on the issue via X (formerly Twitter), after visiting the Philadelphia air traffic facility where Newark’s airspace is now being managed. He criticized the FAA’s outdated infrastructure and called for an “all-new air traffic control system.”

“It’s unacceptable,” Duffy wrote. “We must modernize our aviation infrastructure and fix these equipment outages caused by aging technology.”

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the union representing controllers, declined to comment.

Flight Waivers, Construction, and Congestion Compounding Problems

United has offered fee waivers and fare flexibility to customers impacted by the disruptions, as runway construction and adverse weather conditions, particularly high winds, further snarled operations this week. At least 21 United flights were diverted due to these complications.

Newark remains one of the nation’s most congested airports. United has previously scaled back its schedule at the hub in response to recurring FAA-related setbacks. The latest reduction, however, marks a more aggressive attempt to proactively address systemic limitations.

Long-Term Fixes Urged, Temporary Pain Expected

Kirby has urged the FAA to impose capacity limits at Newark—similar to those already in place at LaGuardia and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport—to help stabilize the airport’s traffic flow.

Last year, the FAA shifted responsibility for Newark’s airspace to its Philadelphia facility in a bid to ease pressure. Despite that move, persistent staffing gaps and aging infrastructure continue to plague air travel along the East Coast corridor.

United remains in ongoing discussions with federal agencies. Kirby also commended the Trump administration’s current efforts to prioritize air traffic control modernization through infrastructure investment.

As the industry contends with lasting effects of the COVID-19-era training backlog and retention hurdles, the FAA on Thursday rolled out new incentives to attract and retain qualified air traffic controllers. Yet with summer travel season looming, passengers can likely expect further turbulence before smoother skies return.