Government Shutdown Sparks Widespread Flight Delays Due to Controller Shortages

Flight delays are escalating across U.S. airports as the ongoing government shutdown continues. The crisis is primarily attributed to a shortage of air traffic controllers who have not received pay for over a month. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that the longer this situation persists, the more significant disruptions travelers will face.

Impact of Government Shutdown on Flight Operations

During a recent press briefing, Duffy stated, “Every day there’s going to be more challenges.” This statement followed a critical meeting with Vice President JD Vance and aviation representatives to address the shutdown’s effects on air travel.

Current Staffing Shortages

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that nearly 50% of major air traffic control facilities are suffering from staffing shortages. Specifically, about 90% of controllers at facilities near New York City are impacted. Major airports experiencing delays include:

• Boston
• Phoenix
• San Francisco
• Nashville
• Houston
• Dallas
• Washington, D.C. area

Airports serving the New York City area, such as John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia, and Newark Liberty, have reported average delays of around two hours.

Recent Flight Performance Trends

Aviation analytics firm Cirium noted that, despite ongoing staffing issues, many major U.S. airports demonstrated commendable on-time performance throughout October. However, a distinct downturn in performance was evident on Thursday, indicating a potential trend towards more widespread delays due to controller shortages. This included delays averaging nearly four and a half hours in Orlando.

Shortages and Ground Stops

Last weekend, a shortage of controllers resulted in a temporary ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport, halting flights for about two hours. Meanwhile, controllers are working mandatory overtime six days a week, which restricts their ability to take secondary jobs to meet financial commitments.

Effects on Controllers

Many controllers are struggling to afford transportation costs, affecting their ability to report to work. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) emphasized that missing just one paycheck can create severe hardships, and enduring a month without pay is unsustainable.

Support for Affected Employees

In response to the crisis, several U.S. airports have initiated food donation programs and other support initiatives for federal aviation employees, including controllers and Transportation Security Administration agents, who are working without compensation.

Prior to the shutdown, the FAA was already contending with a long-standing shortage of around 3,000 air traffic controllers, complicating the situation further.