Air traffic control staffing shortages are causing significant flight delays across multiple U.S. airports for the second consecutive day. The situation has arisen amid a government shutdown that is now entering its seventh day, impacting not just operations but also the well-being of air traffic controllers.
Flight Delays Across Major Airports
According to data from FlightAware, over 3,000 flights have been delayed due to these staffing issues. Major airports affected include:
- Houston
- Nashville
- Dallas
- Chicago O’Hare
- Newark
For instance, Chicago O’Hare is experiencing average delays of 41 minutes as the FAA reduces the number of arriving flights per hour. At Newark, arriving flights are being held up to 30 minutes due to staffing shortages.
Impact of the Government Shutdown
Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers are required to work during the government shutdown without pay. They are set to receive only a partial paycheck on October 14 for work conducted before the shutdown commenced. This has led to an increase in sick leave among controllers, with some areas experiencing a 50% reduction in staffing levels.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the importance of maintaining safety in the airspace, stating, “If we don’t have controllers, we’re going to make sure the airspace is safe. So what we do is we’ll slow traffic.”
Political Blame and Historical Context
Both political parties are exchanging blame for the ongoing aviation delays. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt criticized Democrats, while California Governor Gavin Newsom pointed to President Trump’s administration as a contributing factor.
This situation recalls the 2019 government shutdown, during which a similar rise in absences among air traffic controllers and TSA officers led to extended wait times across airports. The U.S. has been grappling with air traffic control shortages for over a decade, and many controllers were already working mandatory overtime even before this latest shutdown. Currently, the FAA reports a shortfall of about 3,500 air traffic controllers compared to targeted staffing levels.
Flight Statistics
On Tuesday, key flight statistics included:
- 225 delayed flights (20% of total) at Nashville
- More than 570 delayed flights (over 20% of total) at Chicago O’Hare
- Southwest Airlines delayed over 500 flights
- American Airlines delayed approximately 400 flights
As the air traffic control staffing shortages continue, aviation authorities are taking measures to ensure safety while passengers face ongoing delays. The future resolutions of both staffing and political challenges remain to be seen.
