• Travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport are facing ongoing cancellations and delays.
• Key issues include air traffic controller staffing shortages and outdated technology.
• Senator Chuck Schumer has called for an investigation into the disruptions.
• United Airlines has cut 35 daily flights due to the operational chaos.
• Runway construction and adverse weather conditions are further complicating the situation.

Travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport have faced continuing disruptions, with hundreds of flight delays and cancellations reported on various days over the past week. On Monday, May 5, delays averaged over four hours for arriving flights, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cited air traffic controller absences and persistent bad weather, particularly low cloud cover, as critical factors exacerbating the situation, according to The New York Times and CBS News.

The staffing shortages at the Philadelphia Terminal Radar Approach Control, which oversees Newark's airspace, have been especially devastating. These vacancies, coupled with necessary runway construction and technological antiquities, have resulted in a chaotic environment for air traffic management, affecting all arrivals and departures, reports India Times and NPR.

On April 28, a significant blackout in communication lasting up to 90 seconds occurred, leading to controllers' inability to track aircraft. This incident further stressed the existing shortages, prompting controllers to take time off due to trauma from the situation. As reported by industry insiders, over 20% of controllers in Philadelphia called off work amid chronic equipment malfunctions, according to CBS News and India Times.

Senator Chuck Schumer of New York has publicly called for an Inspector General investigation into the chaos at Newark. The senator characterized the airport's operational turmoil as “chaos” and underscored the critical need for transit officials to remedy these inefficiencies to avert future crises at Newark and other airports. His frustrations were shared by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who labeled the delays "completely and utterly unacceptable," as reported by The New York Times and NPR.

As the chaos unfolded, United Airlines announced it would be canceling 35 of its daily flights from Newark starting in early May, attributing these actions to systemic inefficiencies within the air traffic control framework, as highlighted by United's CEO Scott Kirby. He stated that the ongoing issues confronting Newark have undermined the airline's ability to maintain a reliable schedule, referencing significant technology failures in recent days, according to CBS News and India Times.

The ongoing construction of one of Newark's busiest runways, which was closed for rehabilitation as part of a $121 million project, has also contributed to the congestion and delays reported by travelers. This project, which has been in progress since April 15, is expected to last through mid-June, exacerbating an already problematic situation for travelers using the airport, as noted by NPR and CBS News.