FlightAware: Newark airport experiences over 300 delays as holiday weekend kicks off

The unofficial start to the summer is here and holiday travel is well underway. If using Newark Liberty International Airport, the first half of the extended weekend is off to a rocky start. News 12's Jill Croce was at Terminal B Saturday afternoon.

Jill Croce

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May 24, 2025, 9:50 PM

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Updated 3 hr ago

The unofficial start to the summer is here and holiday travel is well underway. For those using Newark Liberty International Airport, the first half of the extended weekend got off to a rocky start on Saturday.

"I wanted to take another plane, but I'm out of luck on that too," Abraham Shiepe said. "I'm at their mercy right now."

Cancellations and delays - all too common this Memorial Day weekend.

Flyers were hit with over 300 delays at Newark Liberty International Airport on Saturday, according to FlightAware. United Airlines was responsible for over 100 of those delays.

“I'm worried if there's no flight at all, right," Amit Khetan said. "Then what happens? Do I go back home? I have to be somewhere I have an event tomorrow morning."

Khetan says his flight was originally set for 5:09 p.m. with Spirit Airlines. He later got updates for a 6:30 p.m. departure, then 7 p.m. and then 8 p.m.

"I actually really thought about driving to Philadelphia. I almost did it,” Khetan said.

John Duong says his delay was while in flight.

"I noticed that on our map, when we were on our flight, we were hovering around Albany for a few laps,” Duong said. “We came from Paris. It was alright, I understand. When I saw that on the map, I thought we're in the queue

for something."

Duong will be using Newark twice this holiday.

"Flying home on Monday to California, so that will be the next test, “ he said.

These headaches aren’t going anywhere at Newark as the FAA announced Tuesday temporary orders for maximum hourly rates over construction, staffing concerns and equipment concerns.

Expect an hourly rate of 28 departures and arrivals until daily runway construction is done on June 15. Then expect work to continue Saturdays through the end of the year.

Apart from those times, expect 34 departures and arrivals until Oct. 25.

"Get me once but don't get me twice. I learned my lesson,” Shiepe said.