• Newark Liberty Airport faces multiple outages impacting air traffic and passenger flights.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy plans to reduce the number of flights temporarily.
• Air traffic control staffing shortages contribute to ongoing delays and cancellations.
• The FAA is working on a multibillion-dollar upgrade plan for U.S. air traffic control systems.
• United Airlines is adjusting flight operations amid the chaos at Newark.

Newark Liberty International Airport has recently suffered a series of disruptions due to air traffic control equipment issues, significantly affecting operations. This includes a ground stop implementation that lasted 45 minutes following a telecommunications failure at the Philadelphia TRACON, which manages air traffic for Newark. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that while operations resumed after the short interruption, the backlog included over 200 delays and at least 80 cancellations across numerous flights on Sunday, May 11 according to CBS News and ABC News.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, addressing the accumulating disruptions, indicated a **temporary reduction in the number of flights** at Newark is necessary to manage the situation effectively. In interviews, he noted that he plans to meet with major airlines to implement these flight cutbacks, concentrating primarily during the busy afternoon hours, especially given the high volume of international flights that coincide with these periods. Duffy stressed, "We want to have a number of flights that if you book your flight, you know it’s going to fly," highlighting the importance of reliability for travelers, as reported by Forbes and HuffPost.

As the **FAA continues to address the ongoing staffing shortages**, which currently sit at approximately 3,000 controllers nationwide, the agency has noted that these shortages contribute significantly to the flight disruptions at Newark. Many controllers have been stressed by recent events, with some taking medical leave, exacerbating the issues facing air traffic management. Duffy has announced plans to raise the mandatory retirement age for controllers and incentivize them to remain in their positions, a move that reflects a broader strategy to stabilize the workforce, as outlined by Business Insider and Le Monde.

The frequency of **equipment outages** at Newark has drawn national attention, with concerns that such technical failures could lead to delays and cancellations at other major airports. Duffy noted that considerations for upgrading antiquated systems are essential to prevent further incidents. He stated that "These are not overnight fixes," and called for a comprehensive approach, aiming for a multibillion-dollar overhaul of the national air traffic control system, as highlighted by SFGate and Los Angeles Times.

United Airlines has already started adjusting its flight schedule at Newark, planning further reductions in capacity. CEO Scott Kirby has echoed the sentiments of Duffy regarding safety, stressing that keeping air travel safe remains the top priority even as they navigate these operational challenges. "Safety is number one, and so I’m not worried about safety. I am worried about customer delays and impacts," he remarked in various interviews, reinforcing the focus on maintaining reliability amidst the disruptions, according to Reuters and CBS News.