United Airlines cuts 10% of its Newark flights, citing air traffic controller understaffing

United Airlines flights account for roughly three-quarters of the air traffic in and out of Newark Liberty International Airport.

Over the weekend, the carrier announced it’s cutting 35 round-trip Newark flights, or about 10% of its daily schedule at the airport. In an online statement, United CEO Scott Kirby cited air traffic controller understaffing and outdated FAA technology as the reason for its decision:

“This particular air traffic control facility has been chronically understaffed for years and without these controllers, it’s now clear — and the FAA tells us — that Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead.”

More than a third of Newark’s flights were delayed Sunday as tech failures and a closed runway continued to weigh on America’s 14th busiest airport.

There are 14,000 air traffic controllers working in the US, more than 3,000 employees short of the level needed to reach full staffing. It could take up to eight years to close the gap. In March, 132 FAA employees who were fired in DOGE cuts were reinstated following a court ruling.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is expected to announce a multibillion-dollar FAA modernization proposal this week.