Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is currently experiencing average flight delays of nearly three hours due to the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an official ground delay program, advising passengers of departure delays averaging 2 hours and 40 minutes on Thursday evening, extending into early Friday morning.
Root Cause: Controller Staffing Crisis
The shutdown has triggered widespread sick-outs among unpaid air traffic controllers, forcing the FAA to implement a 10% reduction in staffing and services at 40 major U.S. airports starting Friday. This safety-driven measure will significantly limit flight volumes at high-traffic hubs, including:
- Newark Liberty (EWR)
- John F. Kennedy (JFK)
- LaGuardia (LGA)
Airlines are expected to cancel up to 4,000 flights nationwide to comply with reduced capacity.
Additional Factors
Separately, LaGuardia Airport is facing up to one-hour delays on Thursday evening due to high winds — unrelated to the shutdown.
Impact on Travelers
Passengers are strongly urged to:
- Check flight status frequently via airline apps or websites
- Arrive early and prepare for cascading delays or cancellations
- Monitor FAA and airport advisories
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the cuts risk causing "mass chaos" across the NYC-area aviation system.
What’s Next?
The situation is expected to deteriorate further as the 10% staffing reduction takes full effect on Friday. Newark and other major Northeast airports will likely see increased cancellations and prolonged delays throughout the weekend.