Air traffic control shortages deepen as US government shutdown enters 8th day

By Busra Nur Cakmak

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is reporting widespread air traffic control staffing shortages as the government shutdown enters its eighth day, with no money yet allocated to continue the work of the federal government, according to media reports.

At least six major facilities are short-staffed, leading to mounting flight delays across the country, according to CNN, including those near Washington, DC; Denver, Colorado; Newark, New Jersey; and Orlando, Florida.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said controllers are “stressed out” by the economic realities but urged them to continue working despite not being paid until the shutdown ends.

“I’m encouraging air traffic controllers to show up for work. They need to go to their jobs. They need to control the airspace,” Duffy told CNN, adding that staffing-related delays have surged from 5% to 53%.

The Transportation Department has reported an increase in sick calls by air traffic controllers since the start of the shutdown.

Delays of up to 30 minutes were reported at airports in Washington, Newark, and Orlando, with additional shortages at control centers in Albuquerque, New Mexio and Los Angeles. Controllers in Nashville were forced to shut down operations for five hours Tuesday night due to insufficient staffing, calling the situation “absolutely insane,” CNN reported.

Controllers, deemed essential workers, must continue working during the government shutdown but will not be paid until it ends. However, some are The National Air Traffic Controllers Association warned that the crisis shows how fragile the system has become after years of underfunding and overwork.

“Our BWI workers are still here. They’re on the job, but unfortunately, because of this situation, the majority of them are, right now, are working without pay,” Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said at Baltimore/Washington International Airport, quoted by CNN.

“They’re doing it because they’re patriots. They’re doing it because they know that this work matters,” he added.

Weather disruptions are also compounding delays in several major cities on Wednesday, including Boston, New York, Miami, and Philadelphia.