Newark Liberty International Airport is making headlines again — and not for the right reasons. One of America’s busiest travel hubs is under fire as frustrated travelers and airline carriers raise concerns about repeated disruptions, including two alarming air traffic communication outages within just two weeks.
Last year alone, nearly 49 million passengers passed through Newark Liberty, serving as a critical connection point for the New York metro area. But recent issues, including runway construction, air traffic controller shortages, and mounting delays, have led many to question the airport’s reliability and safety.
The biggest concern? Two separate communication blackouts between air traffic controllers and pilots — one on April 28 and another just days ago on May 10. Though both lasted only about 90 seconds, they caused significant unease among flyers and raised critical questions about the airport’s infrastructure.
“It’s very concerning that this happened twice in such a short period,” said Mikhail Liverpool, a passenger who experienced a four-hour delay during the latest outage. “They clearly didn’t fix the problem the first time. That’s a huge red flag.”
These recurring technical failures are pushing many frequent travelers to avoid Newark altogether. Mark Nelson, a systems engineer who once preferred flying out of the airport, said, “If the FAA or someone tells you it’s safe to fly from Newark, don’t believe them.”
Travelers have long complained about Newark’s performance. In 2024, JD Power ranked it dead last for customer satisfaction among North America’s major airports. Now, the situation has only worsened. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, average daily flight cancellations surged from just 4 in April to 49 in May. On-time departures have dropped to 63%, far below the industry’s 80% benchmark.
Allison Miles from Oklahoma had her flight delayed by more than eight hours. “I’ll probably just stay home more this year,” she said. “Until they fix this, I’m not flying out of Newark again.”
United Airlines, the airport’s largest carrier, has cut 10% of its daily flights and is waiving fees for affected passengers. The airline is also pressuring the FAA to officially designate Newark as a slot-controlled airport, which would give authorities power to cap arrivals and departures to ease congestion.
The FAA is planning a meeting with major airlines to discuss further temporary flight reductions. Meanwhile, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is pushing Congress to invest billions in upgrading the aging air traffic control system — a long-term solution that may take years to implement.
Until then, travelers are taking matters into their own hands. Frequent flyer John Clark from South Carolina said he’ll now fly from LaGuardia Airport in Queens, even though it adds time to his commute. “Every other week I’m traveling,” he said. “And the only problems I face are when I fly through Newark.”
With safety concerns rising and traveler trust at an all-time low, Newark Liberty International Airport is on the verge of losing its place as a go-to airport for millions of Americans.
