United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby Lures Back Customers with Promises of Improved Newark Airport Operations

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby is attempting to boost customer confidence in Newark Liberty International Airport, which has faced issues with reliability and safety incidents. Despite still having a 30% late arrival rate, Kirby claims Newark will soon be the most dependable New York City-area airport. He credits US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and President Donald Trump for directing funds to fix air traffic control systems that have paralyzed US airspace.

United Airlines is taking significant steps to address the reliability issues and safety incidents at Newark Liberty International Airport, as the airline aims to boost customer confidence in the facility. The company plans to hire more than 2,500 employees at Newark by the end of 2026, as part of a broader effort to revamp the airport and improve its operational efficiency United Airlines to Hire 2,500 Newark Employees in Turnaround Effort^[1].

The hiring spree comes amid a series of technology outages and worker shortages that have plagued Newark. In April and May, communication outages between air-traffic controllers and pilots led to flight delays and cancellations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) subsequently limited Newark flight operations to 68 flights per hour, down from 86, due to these outages. This limit was later raised to 72 flights per hour through the summer of 2026 United Airlines to Hire 2,500 Newark Employees in Turnaround Effort^[1].

United CEO Scott Kirby has attributed the outages to a new fiber optic network installed by the FAA, which he believes contributed to the issues this year. Kirby also expressed optimism about the airport's future, stating that bookings and consumer confidence in flying through Newark have improved United Airlines to Hire 2,500 Newark Employees in Turnaround Effort^[1].

Despite these challenges, Kirby remains optimistic about Newark's future. He claims that the airport will soon become the most dependable in the New York City area, citing improvements in air traffic control systems and the hiring of new staff. Kirby credits US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and President Donald Trump for directing funds to fix these systems, which he believes have been paralyzing US airspace United Airlines to Hire 2,500 Newark Employees in Turnaround Effort^[1].

Separately, United has ruled out any bid for Spirit Airlines' assets, despite the discount carrier's bankruptcy. Kirby stated that Spirit's airplanes, slots, and routes are not a good fit for United and that reconfiguring the budget airline's fleet would be impractical and cost-prohibitive United Airlines CEO rules out bid for Spirit assets^[2].

Meanwhile, a group of 77 House Democrats has urged the Trump administration to reinstate a plan to compensate U.S. air travelers for delays caused by airlines, which was abandoned by the Transportation Department under Biden. The lawmakers argue that this decision undermines consumer protections and will only raise the cost of travel US lawmakers want Trump to reinstate delay compensation plan for air travelers^[3].