United’s proposed Newark fix comes with a possible competitive upside

The Air Current
Will Guisbond
12 May 2025 

As ATC issues wreak havoc at one of United’s largest hubs, the airline is eyeing a return to a less competitive, slot-controlled past

Newark Liberty International Airport’s largest tenant, United Airlines, and its CEO, Scott Kirby, have understandably been the loudest voices railing against the air traffic control staffing and equipment chaos at one of the airline’s largest domestic hubs.

In the wake of a serious technology outage on April 28 that brought the airport to a standstill, 10,971 United passengers collectively suffered 64,570 hours of delay through May 6 alone. Kirby has repeatedly put pressure on the Federal Aviation Administration for equipment and staffing issues, most recently calling the need for his airline to further voluntarily cut schedules “disappointing.”

That rhetoric may serve a secondary purpose: pressuring the FAA to return Newark to a higher level of slot control that could take the load off of the airport, but simultaneously create a competitive advantage for United.

Read on:  United's proposed Newark fix comes with a possible competitive upside - The Air Current