Sunday marked the seventh consecutive day of challenges at Newark Liberty International Airport brought on by an air traffic controller shortage and technology issues.
Gov. Phil Murphy called the situation “completely unacceptable.” He emphasized the need to reverse the hiring decline that the FAA says is responsible for this.
United says that 20% of the air traffic controllers serving Newark walked off the job last week, limiting an already-reduced workforce.
According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the FAA is now offering incentives to retain existing staff and will hire at least 2,000 controllers this year at a 30% higher starting salary.
A Bergen County travel agent told News 12 that bookings have slowed.
“March and April are definitely busy times of the year,” said Rachel Sicolo, who owns UTravel Now. “I would say the last two weeks, things have definitely slowed down a bit. I do think a lot of people have booked their summer trips already. We’re close to summer, so I’m not sure how much it’s going to affect summer as much as the fall and the winter, those Thanksgiving/Christmas trips.”
Secretary Duffy says he is announcing a plan this week to build an all-new air traffic control system.
