US EditionLingering Government Shutdown Causing Flight Delays and Making Air Travel ‘Less Safe’ Every Day
Flight delays have surged due to air traffic controller shortages amid the government shutdown, with staffing issues causing up to 53% of delays, officials said.
- On Friday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said daily air traffic controller callouts have caused flight delays across multiple facilities, and controllers will receive the first $0 paycheck on October 28.
- The shutdown has forced air traffic controllers and TSA screeners to work without pay, with some resigning and FAA academy trainees leaving training as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned pay will run out "soon."
- Data show the shortage is large with 215 staffing shortages since the shutdown, raising delays from about 5% typically up to 53%, while the FAA seeks about 3,000 more air traffic controllers through academy enrollment.
- FAA officials warned the agency will slow or cancel flights if safety cannot be ensured, while union president Nick Daniels said the federal government shutdown makes air travel less safe daily.
- On October 14, controllers received a partial paycheck about 90%, and officials say anxiety over finances threatens workforce retention.
24 Articles
24 Articles
By Alexandra Skores and Aaron Cooper, CNN Every day of the federal government’s closure, the air traffic controllers who report sick are causing delays in flights, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said Friday. “It’s different every day,” he told reporters at a press conference at Philadelphia International Airport. “On average, about 5% of our delays are due to the lack of personnel among air traffic controllers. We’ve come to have up to 53% of th…
Air Traffic Chaos: Shutdown Continues To Trigger Major Delays, Staffing Crisis
The ongoing federal government shutdown is severely disrupting U.S. air travel and threatening aviation safety, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. Speaking at Philadelphia International Airport, Duffy said air traffic controller shortages have caused up to 53% of flight delays, compared to just 5% on normal days. The White House warns of potential flight delays and cancellations during Thanksgiving holiday travel if the government…
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