Additional Coverage:
- ‘Misery map’ shows which major airports are getting hit the hardest with flight delays and cancellations (businessinsider.com)
Government Shutdown Grounds Flights: “Misery Map” Reveals Soaring Delays
NATIONAL – The ongoing government shutdown is sending shockwaves through the nation’s air travel system, with a startling shortage of air traffic controllers leading to widespread flight delays and cancellations across the United States. An online “Misery Map” is providing a stark visualization of the growing disruptions.
The shutdown has significantly strained U.S. air travel, with air traffic controllers, many working without pay, calling out of work. This has triggered hundreds of flight delays nationwide, particularly impacting major hubs like LaGuardia Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport, which experienced cascading disruptions on Friday.
Flight Aware, a platform known for its real-time flight tracking, has been documenting these disruptions since October 30 via its “Misery Map,” which monitors delays and cancellations at 17 key U.S. airports.
As of Saturday before 4 p.m. ET, the entire U.S. air travel system, encompassing both major and regional airports, had seen over 9,000 flight delays into, out of, or within the country since Friday, along with more than 650 cancellations. A significant portion of these, 2,800 delays and nearly 160 cancellations, occurred on Saturday alone.
On Saturday, the “Misery Map” highlighted Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, and Denver International Airport as the top three most impacted, reporting 153, 83, and 86 delays, respectively. Data from aviation analytics firm Cirium further indicated that New York metro airports-LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark-experienced the highest ratio of canceled to scheduled flights on Thursday and Friday mornings.
While Cirium noted an improvement in disruptions on Saturday, they attributed this partly to fewer overall flights typically scheduled on weekends. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported 14 staffing advisories covering various air traffic control facilities as of 4 p.m.
ET. Travelers should also be aware that flights that do depart may experience longer travel times due to reroutes designed to navigate around understaffed control centers.
The root cause of these pervasive issues stems from the government shutdown, which began on October 1. Air traffic controllers, deemed essential personnel, have been working without pay since October 28, following an initial period of partial compensation. In response, airline pilots and flight attendants have stepped up to support controllers by providing essential items, including free food at airports nationwide.
The FAA issued a statement on X Friday evening, emphasizing the critical role of nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers who have been working without pay for weeks to ensure the safety of over 50,000 daily operations. The agency urged an end to the shutdown to ensure controllers receive their earned pay and to prevent further travel disruptions.
Meanwhile, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), representing approximately 20,000 aviation safety professionals, released a statement on its website, stressing the importance of its members continuing to provide high-level public service despite the challenges. NATCA President Nick Daniels had earlier this week called on lawmakers to pass a short-term spending bill to resolve the shutdown, stating that the American public and air traffic controllers deserve swift action.