Due to air control staffing issues, Newark Liberty International Airport, known to be one of the biggest airports in the U.S., has been flagged as an airport to avoid. Because of major delays and cancellations on many flights departing from this airport, flyers are concerned about the safety and reliability of their flights.
Part of Newark’s problems have been attributed to the dated air traffic control systems. These systems have not been updated despite the surge of travelers worldwide, and therefore, are struggling to keep up. Many air traffic controllers for Newark Airport have informed flyers to avoid flying in and out of the airport for their safety, advising them to switch to another airport, according to a May 12 New York Times article. On the other hand, authorities claim that it is safe to travel on Newark Airlines.
Authorities have planned to reduce the number of flights in and out of Newark for the safety of passengers. Their goal is to guarantee a safe flight and to prevent delays. United Airlines, which hosts ⅔ of Newark Airport flights, has attested its safety to its customers through a video from an official. United is also offering travel waivers for customers to rebook their flights to Philadelphia Airport or LaGuardia Airport up until May 23.
In addition to technical problems, it has been proven that Americans are reluctant to fly because of recent plane crashes, according to a New York Times article from May 12. A poll produced by The Points Guy and conducted by the Harris Poll revealed that 65 percent of Americans are more nervous about flying since recent large-scale crashes.
Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blames the Biden Administration for the ongoing air traffic failures, according to a CNN article from May 12. He claimed that they did nothing to fix the system that was known to be broken in a press conference at the Department of Transportation headquarters.
The FAA has created an “emergency task force” to ensure the safety of passengers at Newark Airport, according to a May 12 CNN article. They successfully implemented a software update to prevent future outages and are testing out fiber-optic cables in multiple airports.
With telecommunication issues such as losing radio contact and radar, it is important not to risk rushing the flight. These delays are necessary for the sole purpose of protecting passengers, flight attendants and pilots. Yes, these delays are annoying and can lead to a change of plans and scheduling challenges, but officials are acting out of necessity, and flight cancellations are considered a short-term solution.
