As FAA Faces Strains, Are Control Towers Ready for Summer Travel Season?
- The start of the 2025 Memorial Day weekend saw passengers at Newark Liberty International Airport experiencing delays as the high volume of summer travelers placed strain on the air traffic system.
- These delays come after a significant equipment failure on April 28 at Newark, during which air traffic controllers lost contact with aircraft and were unable to track them via radar for a duration of 90 seconds, leading to congressional investigations and some staff taking leave due to stress.
- The FAA lowered flight caps at Newark, replaced telecommunications lines to Philadelphia, and faced staffing issues after relocating Newark ATC staff, worsening operational strain during peak travel.
- On the worst days, Newark saw over 230 flight cancellations and more than 470 delays, with officials emphasizing staffing shortages and the need to modernize the aging air traffic system.
- Experts and FAA leaders expect summer delays to continue but predict safer travel if no major outages occur and modernization efforts, including hiring and technology upgrades, persist.
30 Articles
30 Articles


Creaking US air traffic system braces for summer crush
NEWARK, May 25 — As the Memorial Day holiday weekend gets underway, US voyagers are girding for a bumpy ride as heavy summer travel volumes test the nation’s overworked air traffic system. Travellers at Newark Liberty International Airport said this week they were resigned to delays but not worried about safety. “It’s more of a concern coming back,” Benjamin Schmutzer, 32, said Wednesday night at Newark before his departure to Portugal. “Hopeful…
As FAA faces strains, are control towers ready for summer travel season?
From lean staffs to aging technology, U.S. air traffic control systems are under stress. Here’s what to know about planned fixes from the Trump administration as summer travel season dawns.
The FAA Is Blocking Remote Towers Used Worldwide—Even Though They’d Help Solve The Controller Shortage For A Fraction Of The Cost - View from the Wing
There's something to rethinking how air traffic control works entirely in a digital world. But if we're realistic, and can only expect incremental improvement, surely this is one we can accomplish? Continue reading The FAA Is Blocking Remote Towers Used Worldwide—Even Though They’d Help Solve The Controller Shortage For A Fraction Of The Cost...
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