Is Newark Airport having delays today?

The repeated delays and flight cancellations at Newark Liberty International Airport are primarily due to aging and faulty communication equipment, which has led to several outages since April. Here's a detailed analysis:

1. **Root Cause**: The issues stem from the Philadelphia radar approach control's aging equipment, which manages all flights to and from Newark Airport. This equipment has failed on three occasions since the end of April, causing radio and radar signals to go dark.
2. **Impact on Operations**: These failures have resulted in significant disruptions, including ground stops and flight cancellations. For instance, on August 28, a temporary ground stop was enforced due to air traffic control communication issues, lasting from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. ET. This is the second such outage in 24 hours, indicating ongoing challenges with air traffic control.
3. **Capacity Reductions**: In response to these incidents, the FAA has reduced Newark's flight capacity. Incoming flights were cut to 28 per hour, down from the normal capacity of 40-42 flights per hour. This reduction is part of the FAA's efforts to mitigate the impact of the equipment issues.
4. **Ongoing Challenges**: The repeated outages highlight the need for immediate maintenance and upgrades to the aging infrastructure at Newark Airport. The facility handles over 40 million passengers annually, making it crucial to address these issues promptly.
5. **Passenger Disruption**: These disruptions have resulted in significant delays for passengers, with flights being grounded and passengers facing long wait times. The situation is further complicated by the need for airlines to reroute flights and manage displaced passengers.

In conclusion, the ongoing communication issues at Newark Liberty International Airport are a result of aging equipment failures within the Philadelphia radar approach control. These failures have led to multiple ground stops and flight cancellations, causing significant disruptions to air traffic and stranding thousands of passengers. The FAA has responded by reducing flight capacity, but the root cause needs to be addressed with immediate maintenance and upgrades to prevent further incidents.