United Airlines Cancels Newark Flights Over FAA Staffing

[Attilatheblond]

https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/united-airlines-cancels-newark-flights-after-faa-staff-walks-out-e794b071?mod=Searchresults_pos1&page=1]

Edited cuz I'm an idiot and forgot to add some quotes.

United Airlines is canceling 35 daily round-trip flights from Newark, N.J., starting this weekend after a group of air-traffic controllers took leave following equipment outages.

Chief Executive Scott Kirby said Friday the decision came after Federal Aviation Administration controllers who oversee airspace surrounding Newark Liberty International Airport left their posts Monday after problems with their radar and radios. Several controllers took trauma-related leave after a similar outage last fall.

“Newark airport cannot handle the number of planes that are scheduled to operate there in the weeks and months ahead,” Kirby said in a message posted on United’s website.

Technology that controllers rely on to manage traffic has failed several times in the past few days. That resulted in dozens of diverted flights, hundreds of delays and cancellations, and thousands of customers with disrupted travel plans.

....

United accounts for about 75% of the New Jersey airport’s air traffic, and has plans to launch five new nonstop international flights from the hub this year. United’s Newark facilities connect travelers to 76 U.S. cities and 81 international locations.

The cancellations come after some airlines reported demand for air travel was falling toward the end of the first quarter. United offered two financial outlooks for the year, one that was the same as its prior guidance, and a lower one that accounted for a possible recession.

[peacebuzzard]

1. wsj paywall.

I wonder if the title is one we will see often. This is a problem with no solution under the present conditions.

[Attilatheblond]

2. I caved & gave them my attila email so I could view

It doesn't cost if you play along. You don't have to READ emails they send or even keep allowing them.

[peacebuzzard]

6. thanks for the edit...

And sure enough, this is just the beginning.
(sigh) This is not going to go well.

I usually don't sign up for anything, I forget to cancel, and then, yikes! When I finally check my burner email, all of a sudden, I have junk mail from everywhere.
It has lately been a hassle trying to clean up my emails.

[Attilatheblond]

5. Yep. TPTB only consider the needs of the ultra rich who can pay a lot for what they want

Maybe they don't want us peons cluttering up their airports and making it hard for their private jets or chartered flights to get anywhere fast.

I also figure, they don't want us peons to travel freely and share information.

[BadgerKid]

3. But are the passengers better for it?

Of the times I have flown through Newark, it was always a bad experience. I avoid Newark.

[Attilatheblond]

4. LOL, avoiding United Airlines always seems a good idea to me

Daughter worked for them. Employees had their own website to share information on problems & bad treatment of employees.

I don't like to fly, won't do it unless absolutely necessary, but even then, I would avoid airlines who abuse workers. Some disgruntled situations reach really bad levels when an employee has finally had enough.

[Historic NY]

7. I have a May 21st flight......

[WhoaDude]

8. Too bad for me

I fly exclusively (almost) on United and for 30y. I have had a great experience no complaints. I fly to or through Newark at least half a dozen times a year so this could be a problem for me. But I agree from felon47 cruelty, disfunction and extortion are their happy place.

[surfered]

9. There was a post yesterday purportedly from someone with inside knowledge ,

recommending not to fly out of Newark due to lack of controllers. Thanks DOGE.