United to cut Newark operations as FAA issues snarl flights

OSTN Staff

United Airlines Holdings Inc. will cut 35 daily round trips at Newark Liberty International Airport after Federal Aviation Administration technology failures and an air traffic controller shortage snarled flights for a full week. 

The “long-simmering FAA challenges boiled over this week,” United Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby said in a letter to customers Friday, resulting in cancellations, delays and stranded passengers.

At the same time, more than 20% of Newark controllers walked off the job, he said. In a Friday statement, the FAA blamed runway construction and staffing issues for the problems.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com