United Airlines is offering free flight changes to passengers traveling to or from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) from May 6 to May 17, 2025, as the airport continues to face significant flight delays and cancellations. The Chicago-based airline, which operates a major hub at Newark, announced that passengers can reschedule their flights without paying change fees or fare differences, provided the tickets were purchased on or before May 4, 2025.
The flexibility waiver applies to flights departing or arriving within two days before or after the original travel dates, as well as between the original cities of travel, or Philadelphia or New York. Passengers must also retain their same cabin for the rescheduled flight.
This is the second waiver from United Airlines, following an initial announcement for tickets purchased by April 29 for trips between May 1 and May 5.
What’s Behind the Newark Airport Delays?
The ongoing disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport are primarily due to air traffic control staff shortages and equipment issues. United began reducing daily flights from Newark on May 3, cutting about 35 flights per day. The airline cited a combination of air traffic control staff shortages and an equipment outage at Philadelphia TRACON, which guides aircraft into and out of Newark. This outage caused the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to temporarily halt departures, leading to widespread delays and cancellations.
Since the outage, approximately 900 flights have been canceled at Newark Airport, exacerbating the already strained operations. In addition to these issues, Newark has been facing a shortage of air traffic controllers, with existing staff working extended shifts and taking trauma leave, especially following the recent technical failure.
FAA’s Efforts to Address the Situation
The FAA is working to bring in air traffic control supervisors from around the country to assist with the ongoing challenges. However, experts believe it will take time to resolve the staffing and equipment issues fully. The FAA has also acknowledged that the air traffic control systems in the New York area are outdated, which has contributed to the current challenges.
In response, the FAA is taking steps to improve reliability by updating the telecommunications systems and enhancing automation. These changes are aimed at making the system more resilient in the future, but it may take time before the disruptions at Newark are fully addressed.
