Should I Book a Flight Through Newark Airport?

2025 has been a troubling year for flights in the United States, and we’re not even halfway through the year. Air traffic controllers have had a particularly rough year, most notably at Newark Liberty International Airport, which has suffered three outages in less than 2 weeks. As one of the top 15 busiest airports in the U.S., serving the New York metro area, it's undoubtedly impacting air travel. If you have an upcoming flight through Newark, you should be prepared for delays and stay as flexible with your travel plans as possible. 

A Timeline of the Outages at Newark Liberty International Airport

April 28, 2025: The first system outage lasted for 90 seconds. During this time, all communication between air traffic controllers at Newark and planes was lost. 

May 9, 2025: The second system outage occurred just before 4 a.m. and lasted for another 90 seconds.

May 11, 2025: A third outage occurred on Sunday morning, and a backup air traffic control system briefly failed. This caused a 45-minute ground stop to ensure that the system was back up and running. According to the FAA, it was an audio (not visual) issue with radio frequencies. Air traffic controllers were able to communicate with pilots, but since the radio system wasn’t working correctly, a decision was made to switch to the backup system.

All of these system outages have been traced back to the Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) network, which operates out of Philadelphia and guides flights in and out of the Newark airspace. 

Naturally, these outages cause a domino-style effect of delays and cancellations, which affect thousands of travelers. As of Sunday evening (May 11), there were more than 250 delays and at least 80 cancellations of both domestic and international flights. 

In addition to these system outages, Newark Liberty is also dealing with air traffic control staffing shortages. To be clear, many controllers went on medical leave following the first outage. They're entitled to at least 45 days of medical leave and must be evaluated by a doctor before they can return to work.

Is Newark Airport Safe?

I think everyone is asking themselves if they should fly through Newark right now. I don’t have a magic 8 ball to help you make your decision, but I can offer my thoughts as a travel expert and someone who flies out of Newark Liberty multiple times a year.

Historically, yes. Newark is the second busiest airport in the New York airport system (JFK takes the gold), and it’s a major gateway to many destinations in Europe. It’s not impossible to avoid the airport, but it’s undoubtedly tricky. 

Newark is a hub for both United Airlines and FedEx (mentioning FedEx in case you’re waiting on a package). Since the first outage on April 28, Newark has been trying to play catch-up. Many air traffic controllers took trauma leave after the April 28 incident, leaving ATC short-staffed. Newark is also down a major runway, with construction expected to last until mid-June. To add salt to the wound, the weather has not been helpful either, creating even more delays. When it rains, it pours, right?

It’s important to note that while the system outages are unnerving, pilots and air traffic controllers are trained on many backup procedures. Planes have their own radars, which allow them to detect other planes in the area. Many backup procedures can (and have been) implemented when these outages occur. The danger is delays and cancellations, not necessarily planes crashing into each other mid-flight. That's important to understand.

Should You Book a Flight to/from Newark Airport Right Now?

If you're considering a flight to/from Newark, or with a layover in Newark, it might be smart to consider other options. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that Newark will operate at a reduced capacity in the upcoming weeks. Personally, I’d much rather this than purchasing a flight only to be delayed 4 or 5 hours. Don’t sell the tickets if you can’t follow through, right?

If you booked a flight before May 4 to, from, or through Newark, United Airlines issued a travel alert offering flexibility for flights scheduled through May 23. The airline will waive change fees and fare differences if you reschedule with United through LaGuardia (LGA) or Philadelphia (PHL). Note: restrictions apply.

If you must fly through Newark, make sure you check your flight status often and be patient. Travelers can look up their flight on the specific airline's website (or app) or check the flight status on Newark's website. Know your rights about what you're entitled to in the event of a major delay or cancellation, and make sure to follow up with the airline for proper compensation (unfortunately, air traffic control issues aren't usually covered). To prepare for delays or cancellations, consider making tentative accommodation plans in case your flight is canceled, look into travel insurance, and make sure you pack your essentials in your carry-on bag.

What's Next

On Thursday, May 8, 2025, before the last two outages, the Trump Administration proposed a multibillion-dollar overhaul of the United States air traffic control system. This would include six new air traffic control centers, plus new technology and communication upgrades for all air traffic facilities in the country… but it would take 3 or 4 years to implement.

The looming question everyone is thinking is correct: what happened at Newark can happen anywhere. The technology is dated and needs replacing. But that will take time; it’s not an overnight fix. 

In the meantime, Newark Liberty will reduce its daily flight load to reduce delays and cancellations. As someone who has spent many long hours waiting at Newark, I can tell you it’s not an airport you want to be stuck in for long durations. Hopefully, things can get back on track.