Travelers on Memorial Day encounter flight disruptions at assorted airports nationwide due to inclement weather.
Travel Industry Remains Resilient, Says Caryn Seidman Becker
Delays persist in various airports across the US due to unfavorable weather conditions on Memorial Day, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Notably, delays are affecting flights headed to Colorado, Texas, and California airports.
As of 9 a.m. ET Monday, a Traffic Management Program is in effect for planes arriving at Denver International Airport, causing some arrivals to be delayed by an average of 30 minutes due to weather. Moreover, flights to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Texas are being delayed for nearly an hour on average, and planes headed to San Francisco International Airport remain delayed by an average of 28 minutes.
These delays come amid an anticipated record-breaking Memorial Day holiday travel period, with an estimated 45.1 million people expected to travel more than 50 miles from home. This represents a 1.4 million increase compared to last year's figures.
Separately, ongoing delays are causing turbulence for travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated an interim order reducing flight arrivals and departures due to runway construction on one of the airport's runways, which is set to complete daily usage by June 15.
The FAA aims to minimize the significant inconvenience to travelers by limiting the number of arrivals and departures to 28 per hour until the construction is finished. This number is expected to increase slightly to 34 operations per hour thereafter, albeit still limited until the fall. Acting FAA Administrator Chris Rocheleau voiced that their primary objective is to mitigate excessive flight delays resulting from construction, staffing challenges, and recent equipment issues.
Recent weeks have highlighted the air traffic control system's struggles, particularly at Newark Liberty International Airport. Passengers have contended with several-hour delays and hundreds of canceled or delayed flights due in part to air traffic control outages.
The air traffic control system has been under pressure for years due to persisting staffing shortages, outdated technology, and underinvestment in crucial infrastructure. These strains have come to the forefront as New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport faced back-to-back issues in recent weeks.
Aside from these longstanding challenges at Newark, ongoing construction at the airport has further strained its operations, temporarily leaving it with only one of its two parallel runways in operation. Overall, the current predicament at Newark Liberty International Airport stems primarily from a combination of runway construction, staffing shortages, and technology problems affecting the Philadelphia TRACON, which manages the airspace for Newark.
The FAA and major airlines serving Newark are actively working to adjust flight schedules to accommodate the reduced airport capacity and controller availability, with projected improvements in staffing levels by late October 2025. They are also intensifying hiring and training efforts for air traffic controllers to address the crisis in the longer term.
Travelers facing delays might consider diversifying their plans, such as exploring local sports-betting opportunities or adapting their travel-itinerary to less crowded destinations to maintain their planned investment in a memorable Memorial Day lifestyle. Meanwhile, the ongoing construction and staffing challenges at Newark Liberty International Airport won't just affect travelers, but could also impact the broader sports industry, given the venue's significance as a hub for many major sporting events. Perhaps, in light of these challenges, the weather might provide a rare moment of consistency, offering a temporary respite before the busy summer sports season commences.
