Overview

• Newark Liberty International Airport is experiencing its fifth consecutive day of major flight delays and cancellations, with over 400 delays and 200 cancellations reported daily.
• Ongoing runway construction, scheduled to last through mid-June, has significantly reduced airport capacity and compounded delays.
• FAA staffing shortages, with the agency 3,500 controllers below its target, remain a critical factor, forcing mandatory overtime and slot-waiver extensions for airlines.
• Recent equipment failures at the Philadelphia TRACON, which oversees Newark airspace, added to operational challenges despite being resolved earlier this week.
• Federal authorities are rolling out salary increases, bonuses, and recruitment initiatives to address long-term staffing deficits and stabilize air traffic control systems.