U.S. Airports Face Severe Flight Delays Amid Ongoing Federal Shutdown

Staffing shortages led to more flight delays at airports across the U.S. on Tuesday as the federal government shutdown stretched into a seventh day, while union leaders for air traffic controllers and airport security screeners warned the situation was likely to get worse.

The Federal Aviation Administration reported staffing issues at airports in Nashville, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia, and at its air traffic control centers in Atlanta, Houston, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The agency temporarily slowed takeoffs of planes headed to these cities.

Despite these traffic snags, around 92% of more than 23,600 flights departing from U.S. airports on Tuesday afternoon took off on time, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

However, the risk of wider impacts to the U.S. aviation system continues to grow as federal workers whose jobs are deemed critical persist in working without pay. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more likely it is to affect holiday travel plans in November, according to travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted a rise in air traffic controllers calling in sick, which further complicates the situation. When there aren’t enough controllers, the FAA must reduce the number of takeoffs and landings to maintain safety, which causes flight delays and possible cancellations, he stated.

As the shutdown impact deepens into the aviation sector, airport authorities are preparing resources to assist federal employees working without pay, including food banks and vouchers. Tampa International Airport has initiated 'Operation Bald Eagle 2,' which aims to ease the burden on approximately 1,100 federal employees there.