Governor Murphy seeks federal help as Newark Liberty International Airport delays grow

Key Takeaways

• Over 250 flights delayed, 150 canceled in one day at Newark Liberty International Airport since late April 2025.
• Governor Murphy urged immediate federal action: technology upgrades, more air traffic controllers, and increased funding for airport improvements.
• United Airlines cut 35 daily round-trip flights; construction leaves only one runway open through mid-June 2025.

Travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport have faced serious problems over the past week. They’ve run into hours-long delays and hundreds of flight cancellations, with no obvious end in sight. In response, Governor Murphy has called on the U.S. Department of Transportation for help, hoping to end what he described as “completely and utterly unacceptable” conditions at one of the busiest airports in the region.

The Situation at Newark Liberty International Airport

Since late April 2025, flights arriving at and leaving from Newark Liberty International Airport have been affected by a series of connected problems. Some passengers have faced delays of six hours or more when landing and close to four hours when taking off. In one single day, more than 250 flights were delayed, and more than 150 were cancelled. These problems have left thousands of travelers angry, confused, and with disrupted plans.

The root causes go beyond one simple technical problem. Several factors have mixed together to create a perfect storm at this key airport.

Breaking Down the Causes

1. Shortage of Air Traffic Controllers
   One of the main problems comes from not having enough air traffic controllers. These are the highly trained people who guide planes as they land and take off. Their work is especially important in busy airspace like that over Newark Liberty International Airport. The Philadelphia TRACON, or Terminal Radar Approach Control, is the group in charge of this region’s skies. However, United Airlines reported that more than 20% of its controllers at Newark have taken leave in recent weeks. This sharp drop in staffing has forced the airport to slow down the rate at which it can safely handle planes.

2. Equipment Failures
   The technology used to guide planes safely through the sky has also failed. On April 28, something rare and dangerous happened: for about one minute, controllers in Philadelphia lost both radar and communications with several jets flying through their space. In that moment, those planes were “flying blind,” meaning they could not talk to the people guiding them or be seen on those people’s screens. While the blackout didn’t cause a disaster, it did scare several controllers so much that they took temporary medical leave under federal law.

3. Old, Outdated Technology
   Part of what led to the blackout was aging technology. Secretary Sean Duffy of the U.S. Department of Transportation openly said, “the technology we are using is old,” and described it as a main reason for many of the outages and delays. Governor Murphy was even more direct, saying “decades of underinvestment in the maintenance of critical air traffic control infrastructure” have set up the present-day crisis. The people who watch over air traffic simply don’t have up-to-date tools, which makes their job harder and more stressful.

4. Airport Construction
   Even if the staff and equipment were at full strength, Newark Liberty International Airport is working at half its normal speed. That’s because only one runway is open right now. The airport had already planned major runway repairs and upgrades, so crews have closed one of its key landing strips through mid-June 2025. This construction reduces how many planes can land and take off at once, making any other problems much harder to handle.

Impact on Airlines and Travelers

The problems at Newark go beyond the people who work at the airport. United Airlines, which uses Newark Liberty International Airport as an important hub, has had to cut 35 daily round-trip flights from its schedule. This is a big drop, meant to make the workload more manageable and to give the remaining controllers and ground staff some breathing room.

Travelers have been left dealing with confusion and discomfort. Flight tracking services like FlightAware recorded over 250 delays and 150 cancellations in just one day. These numbers mean that many tens of thousands of people have had their plans changed or ruined, sometimes with very little warning.

The effects also ripple out to other airports across the region. When planes are backed up in Newark, it’s harder for flights to move on time through airports in New York 🇺🇸 and Pennsylvania 🇺🇸, too.

Government Response: Demands and Promises

Worried about the damage these problems were causing for families, workers, and businesses, Governor Murphy sent a formal letter to Secretary Duffy at the U.S. Department of Transportation. He asked for immediate help with three specific requests:

1. Upgrade Technology and Facilities
   Governor Murphy stressed the need for Newark Liberty International Airport and the broader New York-New Jersey region to be first in line for new technology and building updates. He pointed out that airports run by the regional port authority handle more than 144 million passengers each year. If these airports can’t keep up, millions of trips and jobs are at risk.

2. Fix Staffing Shortages
   He urged the U.S. Department of Transportation to do something about the huge lack of controllers both at the Philadelphia TRACON (which manages the skies near Newark) and at New York TRACON (which covers the rest of the region). Governor Murphy asked for an immediate plan to bring in more trained staff and fix the “chronic” shortfalls that have built up over the years.

3. Push for More Funding
   Thinking of the future, Governor Murphy also called on Secretary Duffy to work with the U.S. Congress. He wants new money to update air traffic management tools and facilities, especially because the region will soon host the high-profile World Cup Finals. With world attention coming to New Jersey 🇺🇸 next year, he said, it is urgent to get these problems under control.

While praising Secretary Duffy’s efforts to speed up the hiring of new air traffic controllers across the country, the governor made it clear the region’s crisis can’t wait.

Other Leaders Join the Call for Action

It is not only New Jersey’s governor pushing for solutions. Senator Chuck Schumer, the Senate Minority Leader, asked for an inspector general investigation into what he called the “chaos” at Newark Liberty International Airport. He warned that these problems “could very well be a harbinger” for the rest of the country if nothing is fixed now.

Secretary Duffy responded to the crisis by promising not only to hire more air traffic controllers but to roll out an “all-new air traffic control system” that would help Newark and other busy airports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which runs these systems, admitted that “our antiquated air traffic control system is affecting our workforce,” and said it is working to make sure its communication tools are “more reliable in the New York area.”

A Broader Context: How Old Systems Make Problems Worse

This crisis at Newark Liberty International Airport is not a one-time event. It highlights risks that have worried many in the travel and business world for years. Air travel in the United States 🇺🇸 has grown quickly, but the tools and buildings that guide flights often have not been updated as fast. At big, busy airports like Newark Liberty International Airport, old communications and radar equipment make jobs more stressful for the people who keep planes safe. When one part of the system fails — like on April 28 — all the other weak areas start to show as well.

Analysis from VisaVerge.com suggests that these patterns of delays, cancellations, and overworked staff are likely to repeat across the country unless major changes are made. According to data and statements given by the FAA and Transportation Secretary Duffy, fixing such problems will take new money, better technology, and more trained professionals.

Looking at the Immediate and Long-Term Effects

• For Travelers: People with business trips, vacations, and family visits have had to change or cancel flights, spend more money on hotels, or even sleep at the airport waiting for a new way home. This can create stress, missed work, and frustration.
• For Airlines: United Airlines, in particular, has lost money and had to adjust its whole schedule, which affects employees and partners as well.
• For Airport Workers: Ground staff, security, and airline workers at Newark Liberty International Airport have had to deal with upset travelers, changing schedules, and higher pressure to keep things moving.
• For the Region: Cities and towns near the airport rely on the travel business for jobs and economic growth. Each cancelled or delayed flight costs both time and money.
• For the Country: As Newark is a major entry point to the United States 🇺🇸, these problems give a bad impression to international visitors and can affect the country’s reputation for travel safety and comfort.

Is This Just a Local Issue?

Problems at Newark Liberty International Airport matter much more widely. As one of the busiest airports near New York City 🇺🇸 and a major hub for both domestic and international flights, any long-term setbacks stress the entire U.S. air system. When something backs up in Newark, other airports around the country can feel that disruption. Also, if similar shortages or technology failures happen elsewhere, the country could see wide, repeated travel chaos.

Government and Industry: Can They Work Together Fast Enough?

Governor Murphy’s demands focus minds on the biggest challenges: fixing old technology, hiring more people, and making sure funding keeps up with growing traveler numbers. Industry groups and travel experts agree that the best solution will need both strong leadership from the government and more commitment from Congress to pay for expensive changes.

Travelers and U.S. families rightly expect airlines and the government to sort out these problems quickly. The hosting of the World Cup Finals in the area next year adds even more pressure. Any delay in fixing air traffic control puts millions of trips and a major world event at risk.

But What Happens Next?

Officials are promising to move quickly. Secretary Duffy wants to roll out a new air traffic control system fast, while also hiring more controllers as soon as possible. Governor Murphy continues to push for Newark, New York 🇺🇸, and nearby airports to be at the top of the upgrade list. Yet, as many experts note, hiring and training air traffic controllers takes time, and so does updating old technology.

In the meantime, travelers can check on up-to-date flight information, and official responses are best monitored from sources like the Federal Aviation Administration’s webpage about air traffic services. Both Governor Murphy and leaders at the U.S. Department of Transportation have stressed the need for patience, but also for pressure on Congress to provide the funds needed for a real fix.

Summary of Key Points

• Governor Murphy pleaded with the U.S. Department of Transportation for fast help at Newark Liberty International Airport.
• Problems come from not enough air traffic controllers, equipment failures, old technology, and construction blocking one runway.
• United Airlines was forced to cut flights; travelers and workers are facing wide impacts.
• Leaders at all levels are calling for new technology, more staff, and enough money to upgrade failing systems.
• The FAA and Secretary Duffy have laid out plans to fix these problems, but change will take both time and commitment.

For now, travelers using Newark Liberty International Airport should prepare for delays and keep a close watch on changing schedules. As the summer travel season and next year’s World Cup Finals approach, millions are hoping for a quick and lasting solution.

Learn Today

TRACON → Terminal Radar Approach Control, the center responsible for managing and guiding airplanes in and out of a region’s airspace.
FAA → Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. agency responsible for overseeing all aspects of civil aviation and air traffic control.
Air Traffic Controllers → Specialists who direct aircraft on the ground and through controlled airspace to ensure safe and orderly flight operations.
Runway Outage → A period when an airport’s runway is closed for repairs or upgrades, reducing its capacity for takeoffs and landings.
Antiquated Technology → Old, outdated communication and radar systems that increase the risk of failures and make operations less efficient.

This Article in a Nutshell

Massive disruptions continue at Newark Liberty International Airport, with significant delays and cancellations since late April 2025. Shortages of air traffic controllers, old technology, and runway construction have created a crisis. Governor Murphy demands urgent federal help. United Airlines cut flights, and travelers face major disruptions with no swift solution in sight.
— By VisaVerge.com

Read more:

• Wisconsin Governor Defies Trump Administration Threats
• Arizona Governor blocks bill to allow ICE agents in schools
• Governor Kemp Seeks ICE Training for 1,100 State Officers on Immigration
• Oklahoma Governor Stitt Rejects Plan to Check Citizenship for School Enrollment
• Governor Kevin Stitt Blocks Plan to Track Immigration Status of Students