So, like, remember that whole mess at Newark Airport with the delays and stuff? Well, guess what? Passengers flying there on Friday are still facing more problems. Can you believe it?
The FAA is saying that flights heading into Newark are delayed by an average of 99 minutes on Friday morning because of “staffing” issues. And get this – all flights within the lower 48 states are under some kind of ground delay program. Sounds like a blast, right?
If you check out the travel alert on the Newark Liberty website, it basically says, “Hey, we’re dealing with FAA staffing issues and construction, so expect delays. Oh, and make sure to bug your airline about your flight status.” Lovely, just lovely.
On Thursday, things were even worse. Arrivals were delayed by around five hours, and departing flights were a mess too. Chaos, I tell you.
The Port Authority, which runs the airport, had to put out a statement saying they’re keeping an eye on things and working with airlines, the FAA, and other folks to help out passengers. About a third of flights were delayed on Thursday. Yikes.
And to add to the fun, the FAA had equipment problems at its Philadelphia TRACON center on Thursday morning. This caused even more delays for folks trying to catch their early morning flights out of Newark. Can’t catch a break, can they?
JP Tristani, some aviation expert, said, “Yep, these problems are happening and they’re only gonna get worse as we head into summer with more tourists and flights crowding up the airports.” Thanks for the pep talk, JP.
This isn’t the first time Newark Airport has dealt with delays because of FAA issues. And they’re also doing some runway construction work this spring, so sometimes there’s only one runway available. Talk about a recipe for disaster.
So, in a nutshell, Newark Airport is a hot mess right now. Passengers are stuck dealing with delays, construction, and whatever else the universe decides to throw at them. Good luck to anyone trying to fly in or out of there. You’re gonna need it.
