US EditionGround Delay at Orlando International Airport Due to Air Traffic Controller Staffing
- On Thursday night, flights to Orlando International Airport were delayed for hours due to FAA staffing issues, with a ground delay program from 10 p.m. through 3 a.m. Friday.
- The federal government shutdown that began on Oct. 1 has left air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration workers unpaid, raising the prospect of absences and understaffing.
- Orlando's flight-status page listed over a dozen delays or cancellations, including a Spirit flight canceled after midnight and a Southwest rescheduled to 1:16 a.m., with FAA advisories warning no arrivals could land due to no certified air traffic controllers at MCO.
- The FAA advisory said all U.S. departures would be affected, Delta Air Lines demanded Congress reopen the government immediately, and controllers distributed leaflets urging an end to the shutdown.
- Other airports reported knock-on delays, with DCA and Teterboro showing averages of 90 and 346 minutes, while the FAA said staffing increased for the F11 Central Florida Tracon and an alert was canceled.
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Florida's busiest airport turns away all flights as air traffic controller shortage hits
The nationwide air traffic controller shortage led the busiest airport in Florida to turn away all arrivals Thursday night as the federal government shutdown continues.Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) officials issued an advisory Thursday night, warning there would be "no certified controllers for a period of time" at Orlando International Airport (MCO).The shortage prompted the FAA to cancel all landings at MCO, which is the closest major …
FAA nearly closed Orlando airport over staff shortage amid shutdown, thousands of flights delayed, cancelled
The FAA said in a statement that delays at these airports averaged more than two hours at Orlando, 90 minutes at National Airport in Washington and 21 minutes at Dallas.
Disney Trips Ruined: FAA Staffing Crunch Leaves Travelers Stranded
A shortage of air traffic controllers created widespread travel headaches for guests heading to The Most Magical Place on Earth last night. According to advisories issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a ground delay program was put in place for Orlando International Airport (MCO), resulting in significant disruptions for inbound flights — many of which were delayed for more than two hours on average. The delays rippled across the…
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