United Airlines says it has 'no other choice' but to cancel flights from Newark airport

Core Points - United Airlines is canceling numerous daily flights to and from Newark Liberty International Airport due to the airport's inability to manage the volume of incoming and outgoing planes, primarily caused by a staff shortage in air traffic control [1][2] - The CEO of United Airlines, Scott Kirby, highlighted that recent air traffic control failures have led to significant flight disruptions, including diverted flights and thousands of affected customers [3] - The airline has been advocating for Newark to be reclassified as a "Level 3" airport, which would allow the FAA to regulate the number of scheduled flights based on the airport's capacity [4] Air Traffic Control Issues - A report from the Department of Transportation indicated that the FAA is still facing staffing challenges post-COVID-19, lacking a plan to address these issues, which threatens air traffic operations continuity [5] - The FAA has specific age requirements for air traffic controllers, mandating retirement at age 56, and is currently only accepting applications from individuals under 31 [5] Government Response - The US Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, announced plans to hire 2,000 new air traffic controllers this year, including financial incentives for academy graduates assigned to difficult-to-staff facilities [7] - Duffy emphasized the importance of building a new air traffic control system to address long-standing staffing declines and improve retention and hiring [8] United Airlines' Strategy - United Airlines has implemented a three-point plan aimed at reducing delays, focusing on investments in staffing, technology, and facilities, alongside a 4% reduction in its domestic flight schedule announced in July [8]