As Thanksgiving travelers embarked on their journey back home, Newark Liberty International Airport encountered significant delays this past Wednesday, a day before the holiday. According to NBC New York, Newark initiated a ground delay program that commenced at 1 p.m., with the Federal Aviation Administration warning of average delays around 95 minutes and some exceeding three hours. Meanwhile, FlightAware recorded by late afternoon Wednesday that almost 300 flights were delayed at Newark, in stark contrast to JFK's 100 and LaGuardia's 50.
Fluctuations in the flow of passengers continued into Monday night, as FOX 5 New York reported average departure delays at Newark sitting at 33 minutes. Arrival delays for airborne aircraft stood at an hour and 5 minutes, continuing to climb. For those still navigating the tail end of their holiday travel, live status updates for flights at Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia can be found on FlightAware.
With the holiday season typically garnering massive travel numbers, this year's Thanksgiving period was especially hectic. AAA projected that almost 80 million people traversed 50 miles or more from their homes, with a sizable number choosing to drive. The Transportation Security Administration anticipated screening a record number of passengers on Sunday, given the late occurrence of Thanksgiving Day this year. Adding to the pandemonium, the FAA has voiced concerns over air traffic controller shortages potentially leading to more delays, and transportation analytics firm INRIX forewarned of heavy road congestion on Monday due to the overlap of holiday travelers and routine commuters.
Complicating the travel landscape, employees at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, a major hub for American Airlines, initiated a strike on Monday over wage concerns. "An end to poverty wages and respect on the job during the holiday travel season," was the rallying call, per a statement obtained by FOX 5 New York from the Service Employees International Union. The strike, involving workers from ABM and Prospect Airport Services who provide a range of services from cleaning aircrafts to assisting passengers with mobility issues, lasted 24 hours.
