Newark International Airport facing flight delays of nearly 3 hours due to government shutdown – and it will only get worse

Travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport are facing nearly three-hour flight delays due to the historic government shutdown — while other major New York City airports are slated to feel the pain of steep flight cuts soon.

Passengers with flights departing the New Jersey transit hub Thursday evening can expect delays of roughly two hours and 40 minutes due to air traffic staffing shortages, according to a Federal Aviation Administration advisory.

Newark International Airport is facing travel chaos as the government shutdown drags on – with flights being delayed upwards of three hours. AP

Beginning Friday, 40 major airports across the United States will see a 10 percent reduction in air traffic controllers and service. REUTERS

The lengthy delay is in effect until at least the early hours of Friday morning, the FAA said.

Several high-traffic airports, including Newark and New York’s John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports, will be impacted by cancellations and delays on Friday as part of the FAA’s 10% airspace reduction to keep American travelers safe.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that “mass chaos” could erupt when the drastic decrease in air traffic goes into effect.

The change, which could ground as many as 4,000 flights nationwide, comes as many air traffic controllers have called out sick while not being paid during the nation’s longest-ever government shutdown.

Flights leaving LaGuardia Airport are also delayed by up to one hour Thursday evening due to unrelated wind conditions, the FAA said.