United Airlines Cancels 35 Daily Flights Amid Newark Controller Shortage

United Airlines is canceling 35 daily round-trip flights at Newark Liberty International Airport due to chronic air traffic control staffing shortages and repeated failures of FAA technology systems, leading to widespread delays and cancellations. The issue intensified after a recent incident where controllers lost radar and radio contact for nearly 90 seconds, pushing some employees onto trauma leave and compounding operational disruptions. United's CEO Scott Kirby cited both understaffing and outdated technology as reasons for the cuts, noting that more than 20% of controllers at the key FAA facility had walked off the job. The airline is urging passengers to consider alternative airports and has implemented flexible rebooking policies. The FAA has announced plans to hire 2,000 new controllers and offer financial incentives to address the shortage, but United maintains that immediate intervention is needed, including potentially reclassifying Newark as a Level 3 airport to better match flight schedules with infrastructure limits. Passengers continue to report difficulties changing flights despite waivers, and delays have had ripple effects across the U.S. air travel network.