Air traffic controller major staffing shortages have put Newark Liberty Airport’s operations in crisis. This crisis is producing unprecedented turmoil and uncertainty for travelers. Traian Hernandez, a former air traffic controller who worked 25 years in Newark, cautions that extreme and chronic staffing shortages are ensuring dangerous conditions in the region. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has acknowledged the difficulty in quickly replacing controllers, despite efforts to train new personnel.
The ongoing staffing crisis has forced current controllers at Newark to double their workload while taking trauma leave. That strain on resources is more evident now than ever before. That’s a serious problem, as last week’s nearly 2-hour major outage that triggered the cancellation of more than 900 flights vividly underscored. The continued uncertainty has socked many would-be passengers, forcing them to panic and rebook their travel around a still-nascent system.
Earlier this week, United Airlines announced a “flexibility” waiver for passengers flying to or from Newark. This is for trips taken between May 6 and 17, 2025, in honor of the upheaval. This waiver allows travelers to reschedule their flights without incurring change fees or fare differences, easing some of the burden on those affected by the chaos at the airport.
The waiver only covers tickets bought by May 4. It lets you rebook onto alternative flights in the same cabin class up to two days before or after your original travel dates. Eligible travelers will be able to convert flights to nearby airports. They have plenty of alternatives—Philadelphia or New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.
Hernandez highlights the gravity of the situation, stating that “in 90 seconds, you can go from one end of the airspace to the other and you have airplanes pointed at each other and you can’t do nothing about it. That is extremely stressful, creates anxiety.” Most importantly, he raised the alarm on recent radar and communication system outages that compounded the hazards to which air traffic controllers are subjected.
The FAA has responded to these staffing concerns and reiterates that training new controllers is a constant cycle. “While we cannot quickly replace them due to this highly specialized profession, we continue to train controllers who will eventually be assigned to this busy airspace,” a spokesperson from the FAA stated.
Newark Liberty Airport, for example, is addressing its staffing shortages and replacing its telecommunications infrastructure. Their passengers are in no condition to cope with an ever more grueling travel experience. Hernandez advises travelers to consider alternative airports, saying, “Reschedule if you can. I will fly out of [John F. Kennedy International Airport] right now. If I have to fly to New York, that’s where I’m flying — Kennedy, maybe LaGuardia [Airport]. I’m avoiding Newark right now.”
