By United Airlines stranded travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday, setting off hourlong waits for nearly 4,000 passengers. This disruption was caused by a severe air traffic controller staffing crisis. Newark has been one of the most congested airports in the country. It is still recovering from chronic disruptions, exacerbated by a shortage of air traffic controllers that has reached epidemic levels nationwide.
In fact, as of midday Friday, more than 200 flights in and out of Newark were delayed. This news comes on top of a strong, miserable trend seen earlier this week, surpassing 1,300 in delays and cancellations combined. This situation has prompted United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to voice his concerns regarding the persistent shortfalls in air traffic controller staffing. For years, he’s pointed out the failures in this essential field. He emphasizes that these staffing issues are a cause of delayed flights and disgruntled travelers.
This should not have been a surprise to the Transportation Department, as air traffic controller shortages have been an issue for at least the last three years. Earlier this month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an advisory – a reminder not to take the bait. It pointed to staffing issues as the clear cause of the delays at Newark on Friday. The department is pursuing a variety of additional solutions, such as providing special incentives to better recruit and retain air traffic controllers.
The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated these staffing shortages as training pauses greatly reduced the influx of new controllers. Consequently, the U.S. still grapples with an urgent shortage of skilled workers in this vital industry. The Transportation Department’s pledge to tackle these effects promises to improve day-to-day performance and prevent future havoc from being wrought.
United Airlines, being Newark’s mainline carrier, has been especially susceptible to the effects of these staffing shortfalls. The airline’s hub at Newark has faced mounting challenges in maintaining timely service, impacting not only passengers but the airline’s overall operations.