U.S. airlines are set to engage in discussions with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this week to address flight reductions at Newark Liberty International Airport. This meeting comes in response to recent equipment failures and a shortage of air traffic controllers, which have disrupted hundreds of flights and intensified calls for modernization of the outdated U.S. aviation infrastructure. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the urgency of the situation during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press," noting that the issues experienced at Newark could soon affect airports nationwide. He stated, "It has to be fixed." Late last month, air traffic controllers at Newark faced a critical situation when they lost their ability to see and communicate with aircraft for approximately 90 seconds. This incident led to prolonged disruptions, with over 1,000 flight delays reported. The stress of the event caused several air traffic controllers to take trauma leave, according to the FAA. Adding to the challenges at Newark, a similar equipment failure occurred before dawn on the following Friday, and by Sunday, the FAA reported a "telecommunications issue" at the same facility. This necessitated a slowdown of air traffic to ensure that system redundancies were working correctly. Additionally, ongoing runway construction at Newark has compounded delays, frustrating airline executives as they prepare for the busy summer travel season. These recent disruptions have reignited longstanding concerns about America's aging air traffic control infrastructure and the persistent shortage of air traffic controllers. In response, Secretary Duffy, along with the CEOs of major U.S. airlines, recently announced a comprehensive plan to modernize equipment and construct new facilities. Although no specific budget was disclosed, industry officials estimate that $31 billion is needed from Congress to fund these upgrades and increase hiring. The issue of flight reductions at busy airports, particularly those in the New York City area, has been a recurring challenge for airlines due to staffing shortages. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby has been a prominent advocate for cutting flights to alleviate operational strain. United Airlines, which accounts for over 67% of Newark's flight capacity, announced earlier this month that it would voluntarily reduce 35 flights, approximately 10% of its daily schedule at Newark, to ease the pressure on its operations. Kirby highlighted the discrepancy between the FAA's estimated handling capacity and the approved flight schedules. "In ideal weather, with full staffing and with perfectly functioning technology, the FAA tells us that the airport can only handle 77 flights per hour," he explained in a note to employees. "And yet, the FAA regularly approves schedules of 80+ flights per hour almost every day between 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m." Kirby warned that this mismatch exacerbates problems when weather conditions, staffing issues, or technology failures occur, leading to gridlock on the airspace, taxiways, and runways. The upcoming meeting between the airlines and the FAA, scheduled for Wednesday at 9 a.m., aims to discuss potential schedule reductions to address these challenges. In light of these developments, there is a growing push for legislative and industry action to modernize and expand the capacity of the U.S. air traffic control system, ensuring it can meet the demands of increasing air travel while maintaining safety and efficiency.