Newark Airport's Repeated Outages Spark Urgent Calls for System Upgrades

Newark Airport Faces Third System Outage in Two Weeks Newark Liberty International Airport experienced its third system outage in less than two weeks on Friday, May 5th, 2025, causing widespread flight delays and cancellations. The outage, affecting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) facility that handles flights in and out of Newark, prompted Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to announce a reduction in flights for at least several weeks. He also pledged to secure funding for much-needed upgrades to the aging system. "This situation cannot last," said Senator Chuck Schumer in a statement. "We need all hands on deck at the FAA. Make Newark number one." The Senator's comments highlight the urgency of the situation and the pressure on the FAA to resolve the recurring issues. The FAA attributed the latest outage to a backup system failure, which lasted for approximately 45 minutes. This follows a similar incident two days prior, where screens at the same facility went black for 90 seconds. United CEO Scott Kirby, speaking on "Face the Nation," assured the public that flying is safe despite the outages, but emphasized the critical need for system upgrades. Secretary Duffy is expected to present a plan to overhaul the air traffic control system to lawmakers this week, with a price tag in the tens of billions of dollars. The plan aims to modernize the system within four years, ensuring smoother operations and preventing future disruptions. The repeated outages underscore the vulnerability of the current system and the potential for even greater disruptions during peak travel times. The commitment to upgrades offers a glimmer of hope for improved air travel in the future.