FAA cuts Newark flight volume amid safety concerns and system failures

The FAA is scaling back operations at Newark Liberty International Airport, temporarily reducing the number of flights by about 25 percent due to ongoing air traffic control issues and system failures.

(CNN)- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is scaling back operations at Newark Liberty International Airport, temporarily reducing the number of flights by about 25 percent due to ongoing air traffic control issues and system failures. Under the new FAA order, Newark is currently limited to 28 arrivals and 28 departures per hour. That number is expected to increase to 34 per hour once daily runway construction is completed. While the move comes just ahead of the busy Memorial Day weekend, officials emphasize that the timing is coincidental. The real reason: weeks of delays and multiple air traffic control outages that have drawn scrutiny and concern from aviation professionals.

“People would be surprised to learn that Newark is not alone,” said Nick Daniels, President of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
He and other experts warn that the issues at Newark are symptoms of a much larger, national problem.

“The system as a whole is extremely fragile,” said Dave Riley, a former air traffic controller.
“It’s aged to the point now we’re starting to see widespread failures.”

Aging infrastructure is at the heart of the concern. “Most Americans today walk around with more computing power in their pocket than air traffic controllers have at the ready,” Daniels noted, highlighting how outdated equipment is hampering efficiency and safety.

Beyond hardware, staffing shortages are compounding the issue. Jonathan Stewart, an air traffic controller from Newark currently on trauma leave, says the team was stretched dangerously thin during last month’s outage.
“Pushing people beyond their limits is not good business, period,” Stewart said.

Despite the troubling reports, experts stress that flying remains safe.
“If you break it down—flying versus taking a train, a boat, or driving—statistically, it’s still the safest mode of transportation,” Riley reassured. As millions of Americans prepare to travel for the holiday weekend, the FAA’s decision at Newark highlights the urgency of addressing aging aviation infrastructure and workforce strains across the country.