On Friday afternoon, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a delay affecting Newark International Airport (EWR) due to a traffic management program initiated for staffing issues.
FAA officials mentioned that the program is currently in place to manage incoming flights at Newark. Consequently, some arriving flights are experiencing delays averaging over an hour and a half.
This situation isn’t entirely new; delays have been a problem in recent months, primarily stemming from a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers, plus a specific incident at Newark. Back in May, ground delays were reported due to a combination of shortages, weather, and construction issues, which even led to temporary losses of radar and radio signals for controllers.
Transport Secretary Shawn Duffy mentioned that the FAA is reducing its workforce of 3,000 controllers. He acknowledged, speaking to Fox News, that “there may be a shortage of air traffic controllers,” pointing out the communication issues in Philadelphia and Newark from the Philadelphia Tracon. He emphasized that while there is redundancy in the system, repairs need to be made to ensure safety.
Looking ahead, the Newark Airport runway is set to reopen on Monday, almost two weeks ahead of schedule. However, to remedy the controller shortage, those from other airspaces have to train in Newark airspace, which complicates matters. Although there are several new controllers currently being trained, the process is lengthy, taking between six months to a year for certification.
Duffy expressed frustrations about the situation, stating, “Again, I can’t snap my fingers and solve the problem with Pete Battissie. Joe Biden left for me.” As for the recent runway situation, less than a month later, one runway was reopened earlier than expected, which helped alleviate some confusion.
Runway 4L-22R had been closed for about a month but is expected to remain partially operational, with limited closures slated into December for weekdays and weekends too. Other runways, like 4R-22L and 11-29, will still be available during this time for any necessary weather disruptions.
