For some travelers, Newark Liberty International Airport has become an air exclusion zone.
With passengers scared by radio reports and radar contact losers of air traffic drivers harassed with airplanes and dismayed by the resulting mass flight delays, the average daily number of travelers flying from Newark, New Jersey, has been reduced to 20% compared to this era last year, from around 72,983 during the second week of May 2024 to 58,496 The last week, according to transportation data, according to NBC Nev data data, according to NBC data for NBC’s safety during the second week of May from 2024 to 58,496, according to transportation data data, according to transportation data data, according to NBC data by NB by NB news data.
Meanwhile, New York Laguardia airport experienced a 16% increase in the average daily number of travelers during the same period, from 36,367 in 2024 to 42,037 this year, according to the data.
And John F. Kennedy International Airport of New York City has had a slight increase in the average number of daily travelers, from 96,392 in 2024 to 97,061 this year in the second week of May, according to the data.
The Federal Aviation Administration predicts a higher flight volume than usual for the weekend of the Fallen Day, with a peak of approximately 54,000 flights on Thursday.
«We hope that the flight number will grow week by week throughout the summer, with the peak at the end of July and six more than 54,000 days of flight more before the end of August,» FAA said in a statement. «Thursday will be the busiest of the week.»
But in Newark, FAA has proposed to reduce the number of arrivals and exits after air traffic communication problems caused the controllers to lose radio contact and radar with the planes that were guiding for 90 seconds on April 28.
There is «a structure of how many flights can leave per hour. We have a delayed flight takeoff schedule,» said Duffy Secretary of Transportation, Reuters reported Tuesday. «You’re going to see a reduction.»
This reduction arose through a provisional order that will enter into force on Tuesday: until the construction of the track 4-left/22 right is completed, the maximum rate per hour will be 28 arrivals and 28 outputs, the FAA said. The daily construction will end on June 15, but will continue on Saturdays until the end of the year.
Outside the construction period, 34 arrivals and exits per hour will be allowed until October 25.
«Our goal is to relieve the substantial inconvenience for the public that travels due to excessive flight delays due to construction, staff challenges and recent equipment problems, which increase as they extend through the National Air Space System,» said the interim administrator of the FAA, Chris Rocheleau, in a statement.
The agency added that the limits of arrival and exit could be adjusted higher or lower, depending on the conditions.
United Airlines, which has a center in Newark, would be the most affected, said Duffy. «They are the biggest player in Newark,» he said.
United Airlines said in a statement that «reducing the amount of flights scheduled in Newark will help to ensure that we can safely and reliably operate the flights that remain in the schedule.»
Earlier this month, he voluntarily cut 35 round trips per day from Newark, Where, in addition to the shortage of controllers, the current construction on the track has contributed to flight delays.
«We are sure that the decisive steps taken by Sec. Duffy, including its leadership in matching the ability of the airport with its operational limitations, will re -operate it reliable for the benefit of our clients,» United said.
Since Duffy announced last week that FAA and the main airlines were talking about reducing the number of flights inside and out of Newark, the percentage of flight cancellations has decreased significantly.
During most of the last week, Newark’s participation in the national flight cancellations had been around 35 and 60%, according to FlightAware data. But on Friday, the number of cancellations was 15%, and fell to 9% on Saturday.
While Duffy has said that no plane was in danger of crashing or colliding when the radio and radar of the controllers fell on April 28, several of the controllers who worked that day came out of low trauma, further reducing the ranks of already exhausted controllers available to work the crowded skies over New Jersey.
There must be 38 certified controllers that serve Newark, according to FAA. Currently, there are only 22.
Percances continue to affect the aging system. Newark drivers, who actually have their headquarters in Philadelphia, lost radio frequencies with airplanes that guide for 2 seconds around 11:35 am on Monday.
No plane was in danger of colliding, and FAA said it is investigating.
Nick Daniels, president of the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers, said Tuesday in an interview that «it is absolutely sure to fly.»
But when asked if it is likely to be a summer of travel problems at Newark airport, Daniels said that «I think the approach must be improving soon» and that the shortage of air traffic controllers is a problem nationwide.
«At this time we operate a system with 10,800 working -worked American men and women,» Daniels said. «But we should have 14,663 employees that same system.»
Many of the controllers are working six days and shifts of 10 hours, he said.
«Morality is low at this time when it comes to the pressure and scrutiny that is happening in the aviation system at this time, with low personnel in each of its facilities,» Daniels said.
Last month, Duffy said he expected the FAA to fulfill its objective of graduating 2,000 new air traffic controlle this year, but warned that the chronic scarcity of controllers would take years to be fixed.
But he also received a bipartisan setback from the legislators who pointed out that the April Antofu occurred not long after the Trump administration dismissed hundreds of FAA workers, including maintenance mechanics, members of the aeronautical information personnel and the specialists in environmental protection, in their effort to reduce the federal government.
