The current government shutdown is affecting multiple parts of Texas residents lives. One of the biggest thing afflicted is none other than travel. Some are concerned with how things will be changed if at the Austin airport if the shutdown goes longer than expected.
What Is Affecting The Austin Airport Currently?
At the time of writing, the thing affecting the airport the most is none other than air traffic controllers. Per Representative Lloyd Doggett, talking to KXAN, air traffic controller shortages and paying them while the government being shut down is still a big issue:
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“We now have only 27 of the 60 air traffic controllers that we are supposed to have, according to the Federal Aviation Administration…Those people are working six day a week, mandatory overtime, overworked, understaffed. And if they as essential workers — which they are — continue to serve without pay for an extended period of time, we only need a few of them to not come to work to create a real crisis.”
The Austin airport is set to see a lot more passengers in the next few months due to multiple events, specifically an F1 race, as well as Longhorn fans traveling to games. But, there’s another part of the airport that needs attention as well.
Austin Airport Is Also Facing Issues With This Part Of Travel
Going through TSA is what everybody has to do to get to their flight out of Austin-Bergstrom. While the line is long, the Austin Airport itself is still short on employees for that. Doggett also elaborated to KXAN about the issue:
“There are also problems with TSA and with Customs and Border Patrol on international flights. I’ve made requests to try to get more employees for both. We don’t have them adequately staffed…