The FAA Air Traffic Control tower at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey on May 7, 2025. Kena Betancur | AFP | Getty ImagesAmerican Airlines chief financial officer said Thursday that some travelers are avoiding Newark Liberty International Airport for other options in the area after a spate of recent disruptions, but cautioned that the impact is “modest.” “There probably is some amount of book-away from Newark flights over into LaGuardia, JFK, maybe Philadelphia to a lesser extent,” CFO Devon May said at the Wolfe Research conference. The Federal Aviation Administration this week ordered airlines to temporarily cut flights at Newark to relieve congestion there as carriers grapple with a shortage of air traffic controllers, equipment outages and runway construction at the New Jersey airport. Bad weather has also added to disruptions in recent weeks. American has a roughly 4% market share at Newark, according to the most recent data from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates the airport along with LaGuardia Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport, both in Queens, New York. “There’s something happening there, but I think it’s relatively modest when you think of the broader network,” American’s May said. United Airlines dwarfs all other airlines at Newark with its nearly 70% share. That carrier had proactively announced cuts of 35 flights a day earlier this month to put more slack in the system. Earlier this month, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the U.S. will spend billions to overhaul the aging U.S. air traffic control system. President Donald Trump’s tax bill, which passed the House early Thursday includes $12.5 billion for air traffic control modernization and staffing.
[WHO, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, WHY, HOW] American Airlines CFO Devon May mentioned at the Wolfe Research conference that travelers are shifting away from Newark Liberty International Airport due to recent disruptions, with some opting for alternatives like LaGuardia and JFK. The Federal Aviation Administration instructed airlines to reduce flights at Newark temporarily to address congestion issues caused by a lack of air traffic controllers, equipment problems, runway construction, and inclement weather. American Airlines holds a 4% market share at Newark, while United Airlines dominates with nearly 70% share, implementing flight cuts to manage the situation. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans to invest billions in upgrading the U.S. air traffic control system, with President Trump’s tax bill allocating $12.5 billion for modernization and staffing.
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Maybe it’s just me, but the recent disruptions at Newark Liberty International Airport seem to be causing a stir among travelers. With American Airlines CFO Devon May acknowledging a shift in passenger preferences towards other nearby airports, it begs the question of how this will impact Newark’s operations in the long run. United Airlines, with its massive market share at Newark, seems to be taking proactive measures by cutting flights to ease congestion, but will it be enough to mitigate the disruptions? The plans to overhaul the air traffic control system sound promising, but it remains to be seen how effectively the allocated funds will be utilized to address the challenges faced by airports like Newark.
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Not really sure why this matters, but it’s interesting to see how airlines are adapting to the changing dynamics at Newark Liberty International Airport. While the impact of passenger diversions to other airports may be considered modest by some, the ripple effects of these disruptions could potentially have broader implications for the aviation industry. With the push for modernization and increased staffing in the air traffic control system, there is hope for a smoother travel experience in the future. Only time will tell how these changes will play out and whether they will be sufficient to address the current challenges faced by airports across the country.
