FAA Staffing Shortages Cause Flight Delays at Newark Airport

As the Thanksgiving travel surge kicks off across the U.S., familiar problems are resurfacing.

The TSA screened 2.5 million passengers on Monday, 2.8 million on Tuesday, and expects nearly 3 million on Wednesday—numbers that could set new records. While most travel went smoothly, with fewer than 100 flight cancellations Tuesday according to FlightAware, there were some issues that could signal trouble in the coming days.

At Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) on Tuesday, a shortage of air traffic controllers (ATCs) caused ground delays into early Wednesday, delaying some flights by up to two hours and affecting nearly 200 routes.

The FAA had warned travelers before Monday that it might slow air traffic at times due to staffing shortages. FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker told reporters in Washington, D.C., last week that “we expect to have some of those shortages,” particularly in the Northeast, as seen at Newark Liberty, in order to keep the system safe.

The delays stemmed from the FAA’s Philadelphia office, where staff shortages have persisted since the post-COVID period. Earlier this summer, the FAA relocated staff there from a New York office to better deal with potential problems.

“Due to FAA staffing issues, travelers may experience flight delays. Check flight status and allow extra time at the airport,” Newark said in a statement Tuesday.

The disruption could impact travel throughout the week, particularly on Wednesday and Sunday, which the TSA expects to be the busiest travel day.

The FAA lists all ground stops and delays on its website. As of 8 a.m. Wednesday, none were planned for the rest of the day, though that could change quickly as air traffic increases throughout the evening.