Travelers to Newark Liberty International Airport are facing over three-hour flight delays due to the historic government shutdown — while other major New York City airports are slated to feel the pain of steep flight cuts in less than 24 hours.
Passengers with flights arriving at the New Jersey transit hub Thursday evening can expect delays of roughly three and a half hours due to air traffic staffing shortages, according to a Federal Aviation Administration advisory.
Those flying out of the Garden State airport were warned to expect 45-minute delays and counting as of 7 p.m., the FAA added.
The lengthy delay is in effect until at least the early hours of Friday morning, the FAA said.
AP
“Wouldn’t want to be flying out of Newark tonight,” one user posted on X alongside a timetable of delayed Newark’s flight departures.
Several high-traffic airports, including Newark and New York’s John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports, will be impacted by cancellations and delays on Friday as part of the FAA’s 10% airspace reduction to keep American travelers safe.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the drastic cuts to flights on Wednesday and warned that “mass chaos” could erupt when the reduction goes into effect.
The change, which could ground as many as 4,000 flights nationwide, comes as many air traffic controllers have called out sick while not being paid during the nation’s longest-ever government shutdown.
The embattled Newark Airport has experienced the brunt of staffing shortages, with several ground stops and ground delays issued in recent weeks.
But even before Oct. 1, airports nationwide have been grappling with a scarcity of air traffic controllers. The shutdown — now nearing 40 days — has only compounded the issue.