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- Flight delays hit major US airports amid FAA staffing woes (usatoday.com)
Air Traffic Control Woes Cause Sunday Flight Delays Amid Government Shutdown
United States – Air travelers experienced significant delays at major airports across the country on Sunday, October 19, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cited air traffic control staffing shortages as a primary cause. The delays, impacting hubs in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Newark, unfolded as the U.S. government shutdown entered its third-longest period in history.
While the FAA pointed to staffing issues, it remains unclear if these problems are a direct consequence of the ongoing shutdown. The agency has historically grappled with staffing challenges, with air traffic controllers frequently working extensive overtime even before the current government impasse began.
Despite Sunday’s disruptions, data from aviation analytics firm Cirium suggests that, for the first 17 days of the shutdown, U.S. flights have largely maintained a normal performance level. Over 82% of flights departed on time, a figure described by Cirium spokesperson Mike Arnot as “average to above-average.”
Arnot attributed any observed operational degradation primarily to recent Northeast weather, not systemic issues related to the shutdown. Flight cancellations have also remained notably low.
However, the FAA reported numerous staffing triggers for Sunday evening’s shift, indicating potential further delays for flights in Las Vegas and Phoenix due to air traffic control absences. FlightAware data corroborated a challenging day for travelers, logging over 5,800 delayed flights on Sunday.
Beyond staffing, weather issues and a Formula 1 race in Austin also contributed to the disruptions. American Airlines and Southwest Airlines were particularly affected, with over 20% of their flights experiencing delays.
The government shutdown has placed a significant burden on approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers, all of whom are required to work without pay. Earlier in the month, a week-long period saw over 23,000 flight delays, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy attributing 53% of these to staffing issues, a stark increase from the usual 5%. While staffing issues had shown improvement in the preceding week, Sunday’s events indicate the problem persists.
Air traffic control has emerged as a central point of contention in the shutdown debate, with both political parties exchanging blame. Unions representing aviation workers and airlines have issued urgent calls for a swift resolution to the standoff. The Trump administration has even aired videos at some airport security checkpoints, aiming to assign blame to Democrats, though many airports have declined to show them.
A similar scenario unfolded during the 2019 35-day government shutdown, which saw a rise in absences among controllers and TSA officers as paychecks were missed. This led to extended checkpoint wait times and forced authorities to slow air traffic in key hubs like New York and Washington, ultimately increasing pressure on lawmakers to end the shutdown.
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- Flight delays hit major US airports amid FAA staffing woes (usatoday.com)