Nearly 7,000 US Flights Delayed as Air Traffic Controller Shortages Worsen During 27-Day Government Shutdown

The Federal Aviation Administration has implemented ground delay programs due to critical staffing shortages amid the ongoing government shutdown.

Washington:

Air travel chaos intensified across the United States on Monday with nearly 7,000 flight delays reported nationwide as the federal government shutdown entered its 27th day, causing air traffic controller absences to rise dramatically.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cited significant staffing shortages as it imposed ground delay programs affecting Newark Airport in New Jersey, Austin Airport in Texas, and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. Earlier in the day, flights across the southeast region experienced delays due to substantial staffing shortages at the Atlanta Terminal Radar Approach Control facility.

Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers are required to work without compensation following the budget impasse between Republican President Donald Trump and congressional Democrats that triggered the shutdown.

The Trump administration has cautioned that flight disruptions will increase as controllers miss their first complete paycheck on Tuesday.

Sunday saw more than 8,800 flights delayed across the country.

According to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, Southwest Airlines experienced delays on 47% of its flights (2,089) on Sunday, while American Airlines had 36% (1,277) of its flights delayed. United Airlines reported 27% (807) of its flights delayed, and Delta Air Lines had delays affecting 21% (725) of its flights.

By 11:30 p.m. ET (0330 GMT) on Monday, Southwest reported delays on 34% of flights, American 29%, Delta 22%, and United Airlines 19%, according to FlightAware data.

A US Department of Transportation official revealed that 44% of Sunday's delays were attributable to controller absences—a sharp increase from the normal 5%.

The growing number of delays and cancellations is fueling public frustration and intensifying scrutiny of the shutdown's impact, increasing pressure on lawmakers to find a resolution.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy was meeting with controllers in Cleveland on Monday, while the National Air Traffic Controllers Association union has planned events at numerous airports on Tuesday to highlight the first missed paycheck.

The FAA is currently about 3,500 air traffic controllers below targeted staffing levels, with many already working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown began.

During a previous 35-day shutdown in 2019, the number of absences among controllers and TSA officers increased as workers missed paychecks, resulting in extended wait times at some airport checkpoints. Authorities were forced to reduce air traffic in New York and Washington.