Newark Liberty International Airport has been experiencing significant disruptions due to both staffing shortages at the Philadelphia air traffic control center and a runway closure for construction. United Airlines, the largest carrier at Newark, has responded by cutting 35 of its daily flights to mitigate the impact of these delays and cancellations, which have left passengers stranded and flights diverted. The relocation of air traffic management from New York to Philadelphia last summer aimed to improve efficiency, but has instead contributed to further challenges, compounded by telecommunications and equipment issues earlier in the week. With one of Newark's three runways closed for rehabilitation, the remaining runways are under strain, leading to inefficient traffic management and prolonged delays. The situation, exacerbated by an ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers, may persist for weeks as airlines struggle to realign schedules and passengers face ongoing travel disruptions.

Newark Liberty International Airport has faced severe disruptions with flight cancellations, extensive delays, and diversions stemming from staffing shortages at the Philadelphia air traffic control center and a runway being out of service due to construction work.

United Airlines, operating the majority of flights at Newark, announced a reduction of 35 round-trip flights per day starting this weekend, as the delays and cancellations have left passengers stuck and flights diverted.

The FAA attributed the disruptions to equipment failures and unspecified staffing issues at the Philadelphia control center, which took over airspace management from New York last summer to purportedly reduce delays.

One of the airport's three runways has been closed since April 15 for rehabilitation, slated to reopen in mid-June, leading to the simultaneous use of a single runway for landing and departing, which is inefficient and limits the airport's capacity.

The Philadelphia control center's technical and staffing challenges have resulted in mass delays and cancellations, with United Airlines citing a significant walkout of air traffic controllers responsible for Newark.

With the air traffic controller shortages persisting, the disruptions are anticipated to continue for weeks, complicating efforts to resume normal flight operations and prompting airlines like United and JetBlue to offer flight waivers for rebooking.

The current situation at Newark is part of broader structural issues within the FAA, with immediate resolutions seeming unlikely, forcing airlines to implement temporary measures to manage the crisis.