🔗 Share this article

Travelers throughout America are bracing for growing disruptions as workforce gaps at airports continue to worsen during the current government closure, now entering its seventh day.

Growing Concerns Over Aviation System

Labor leaders for flight controllers and security screeners have cautioned that the situation is likely to deteriorate, with staffing challenges documented at several major airports including locations such as Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville and Philadelphia.

"The risk of broader effects to the US aviation system is growing by the day," commented travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt.

He expressed serious worry that should the closure persist, it could possibly interfere with countless American Thanksgiving travel plans in November.

Travel Disruptions and Operational Issues

Staffing shortages, featuring an elevated number of workers taking sick leave, impacted key facilities around Denver, Los Angeles and New York on Monday, resulting in delays for over 6,000 flights across the country.

• The Burbank facility's flight control was temporarily closed and responsibilities were managed by another facility
• The Nashville facility reported postponements averaging 120 minutes due to staffing issues
• O'Hare Airport in Chicago showed average delays of nearly three-quarters of an hour
• Dallas-Fort Worth had postponements recorded at half an hour

Industry Response and Labor Stance

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association stressed that it does not endorse any coordinated activities that could negatively affect the National Airspace System.

The organization stated that air traffic controllers value their duty to ensure passenger security very seriously and participating in any work stoppage could result in removal from federal service.

Government Perspective

The Transportation Department head Sean Duffy warned that the country's air traffic control system is being harmed from the ongoing government shutdown.

"They're not just thinking about the airspace," he commented regarding air traffic controllers who are not receiving salaries. "They're thinking about, 'Am I going to get a salary'?"

He noted that many operators live paycheck to paycheck and are unable to manage prolonged durations without compensation.

Wider Consequences

Based on contingency planning, roughly 25% of the workforce, or over eleven thousand FAA employees, were temporarily laid off when the shutdown began last week.

Nevertheless, thirteen thousand flight controllers remain on duty, with recruitment and instruction continuing as well.

Union president Nick Daniels indicated that the closure has emphasized existing challenges encountered by flight controllers, including workforce gaps and outdated equipment.

He explained that the situation is especially serious at regional facilities where limited staffing creates additional challenges.

Despite the widespread delays, aviation analytics showed that approximately 92% of departures from American airports took off on time as of Tuesday afternoon.

The aviation regulator had not issued a "staffing trigger" that would reduce the number of flights in and out of airports, indicating that operations were continuing despite the difficulties.