“It’s Been Building Up for a Long Time”

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby impugned the Federal Aviation Agency's decision to cancel thousands of flights over the 24-25 June weekend on account of less-than-perfect weather. The cancellations and delays affected more than 150,000 United Airlines customers—so states the Chicago-based air-carrier.

In a 26 June email to United employees, Kirby set forth the FAA had "failed" the airline by ordering flight cancellations and delays at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) in response to weather conditions United amid difficult weather conditions the agency "has historically been able to manage."

Mr. Kirby continued: "I'm … frustrated that the FAA frankly failed us this weekend. As you know, the weather we saw in EWR is something that the FAA has historically been able to manage without a severe impact on our operation and customers."

Responding to Kirby’s criticisms, the FAA stated: "We will always collaborate with anyone seriously willing to join us to solve a problem."

Kirby’s umbrage derives of more than 715 canceled flights, of which upwards of 270 were to have been operated to or from EWR—United Airlines’s New York-area hub.

Notwithstanding a charter by dint of which the FAA is tasked with overseeing U.S. domestic air traffic, the agency, of late, has fallen short of effectively exercising its duties. The FAA ascribes its derelictions primarily to staff shortages. Aviation industry stakeholders, however, broadly maintain the agency is terminally afflicted with endemic disorganization, and obsolescence. A brief assessment of Polly Trottenberg, the FAA’s current Acting Administrator, and Katie Thomson, the agency’s Deputy Administrator, substantiates notions that the FAA suffers from an acute want for germane aviation expertise. Trottenberg, formerly responsible for New York City’s roadways, and bicycle and pedestrian thoroughfares; and Thomson, a former Amazon attorney—haven’t a single flight hour between them and would likely reach for their nine-irons at the mention of a localizer back-course.  

In March 2023, the FAA issued a notice in which the agency warned that an air traffic controller shortage at its New York TRACON could disrupt summer travel. According to subject notice, the FAA had reached only 54-percent of its staffing goal for the location. Controllers at the facility—known in FAA parlance as N90—provide air traffic services for John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), LaGuardia Airport (LGA) and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Kirby advised United employees he will work with the FAA and the Department of Transportation to prevent infrastructural disruptions to the coming 2023 summer travel season. The United CEO stressed, however, that responsibility for remedying the FAA’s inadequacies lies with the agency itself.

FMI: www.united.com