Memorial Day weekend, often seen as the unofficial start of summer, began with frustration for many travelers passing through Newark Liberty International Airport, where over 300 flight delays were reported Saturday.
According to FlightAware, United Airlines alone was responsible for more than 100 of those delays, adding to the chaos as flyers scrambled to adjust their travel plans.
“I wanted to take another plane, but I’m out of luck on that too,” said Abraham Shiepe, one of the many stranded passengers. “I’m at their mercy right now.”
Spirit Airlines passenger Amit Khetan experienced multiple pushbacks to his original 5:09 p.m. flight, with updates moving it to 6:30, then 7, then 8 p.m. “I actually really thought about driving to Philadelphia. I almost did it,” he said.
Others, like John Duong, experienced delays midair. “We were hovering around Albany for a few laps,” said Duong, who had just arrived from Paris. “We were probably in the queue for something.”
The travel woes come as the FAA implements temporary caps at Newark due to staffing issues, equipment limitations, and ongoing runway construction. Until June 15, the airport is restricted to 28 departures and arrivals per hour. Afterward, construction will continue on Saturdays through the end of the year, with an increased cap of 34 flights per hour on non-construction days until October 25.
With delays expected to continue, travelers are urged to check their flight status frequently and plan for potential disruptions.
“Get me once, but don’t get me twice,” said Shiepe. “I learned my lesson.”
