United Airlines axes dozens of daily flights at Newark Airport over delays, FAA walk-offs: ‘No other choice'

Core Points - United Airlines has cut 35 daily round-trip flights at Newark Liberty International Airport due to FAA technology failures and staffing issues, resulting in excessive delays [1][2] - The cancellations represent about 10% of United's service at Newark, following a significant walkout of FAA air traffic controllers due to malfunctioning technology [2][6] - CEO Scott Kirby expressed disappointment over the cuts but emphasized the necessity to protect customers amid ongoing FAA staffing issues [3][4] Technology and Staffing Issues - Over 20% of FAA controllers for Newark Airport walked off the job due to technology failures, leading to numerous flight diversions and cancellations [6][4] - The FAA has not provided details on the staffing and technology problems affecting the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control, which serves Newark [10] - Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the outdated technology causing equipment outages and emphasized the need for a new air traffic control system [11] Impact on Operations - Recent technology failures have caused significant delays, with one United flight delayed by over five hours and another El Al flight delayed by nearly 13 hours [7] - The FAA has implemented a Ground Delay for Newark, with average delays of 127 minutes for incoming flights [7] - The New Jersey Port Authority has urged the FAA to address staffing shortages and accelerate technology upgrades to alleviate delays in the busy air corridor [8][10] Recommendations and Future Actions - Kirby has called for Newark to be designated as a Level 3 slot-controlled airport, indicating its inability to handle high traffic volumes effectively [12] - The Port Authority has invested billions in modernizing Newark Liberty, but improvements are contingent on a fully staffed and modern federal air traffic system [10]