United Airlines Cuts 35 Daily Flights from Newark Amid Air Traffic Controller Shortage

United Airlines is cutting 35 daily round-trip flights from Newark Liberty International Airport due to persistent air traffic controller shortages and repeated FAA technology failures, leading to severe delays and cancellations. Over 20% of Newark’s air traffic controllers have left their posts, leaving the airport unable to manage its typical flight volume and causing delays averaging nearly two hours for arrivals and about 45 minutes for departures. United’s CEO Scott Kirby cited both chronic understaffing and recent technological breakdowns at the FAA as causes for the current operational chaos, stating that these issues have forced the airline to make significant schedule reductions to protect customers. The FAA has acknowledged that Newark cannot safely handle its scheduled flights under current conditions, and the Trump administration has announced initiatives to recruit and retain more air traffic controllers. Industry experts warn that disruptions may worsen as the busy summer travel season approaches, and United continues to advocate for reclassifying Newark as a slot-controlled airport to better match flight schedules with air traffic control capacity.