Travelers experienced a challenging Halloween weekend due to widespread flight delays caused by significant staffing shortages among air traffic controllers across the U.S.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was compelled to alter flight schedules due to increasing absences attributed to controllers calling in sick, a situation exacerbated by the ongoing government shutdown that has persisted for over five weeks.
An air traffic controller from a Midwest facility handling high-altitude traffic explained, “What you’re seeing is a lot of people who are truly having to call in sick to go earn money elsewhere. I think you’re also seeing people who are just calling in sick because they’re fed up and they’re like, ‘well, I’m going to spend the holiday weekend with my kids for once.'”
Morale within the ranks of air traffic controllers has plummeted, already low prior to the shutdown due to a chronic staffing deficit, mandatory overtime, and stagnant wages. With controllers now working without pay, the situation has escalated dramatically.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy maintained that the integrity of the U.S. air travel system remains intact, but he acknowledged that the FAA will have to limit air traffic and reroute planes to ensure safety.
Duffy stated, “We will restrict the airspace when we feel it’s not safe. If we don’t have enough controllers to effectively and safely manage our skies, we will have to make those decisions.”
He further warned of potential widespread chaos in air travel if the shutdown persists and controllers miss another paycheck.
“You will see mass chaos, you will see mass flight delays. You’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace, because we just cannot manage it because we don’t have the air traffic controllers,” Duffy said.
Controllers have been making difficult financial decisions, with some relying on loans from credit unions to bridge the gap left by their unpaid status. Others have taken on part-time jobs to sustain their livelihoods.
One controller, who manages arriving and departing traffic at a major airport, noted, “I work with people that are working a second job at night and are just calling in sick in the morning when they can’t go to the job that doesn’t pay them, because they’re too tired.”
This controller has yet to pick up a second job but is considering it. They expressed concern about their financial responsibilities, stating, “You know, I’m going to join that guy here next week if things don’t pan out, just so that I can pay the mortgage.”
As the shutdown drags on, controllers are faced with increasingly tough choices that could impact their ability to maintain flight safety. One Midwest controller remarked, “I think we’re reaching a tipping point. This is kind of about the point in the last shutdown where people just started getting fed up with it.”
During the last major government shutdown in 2018-2019, a small number of air traffic controllers called in sick, leading to significant disruptions at many airports, especially along the East Coast.
While the FAA has improved its handling of staffing shortages since then, controllers this time around indicate that sick calls are more prevalent during this shutdown compared to the previous one.
Although the travel disruption has been limited thus far, the ongoing shutdown is still perceived as a growing risk. Another controller emphasized, “It does degrade that margin of safety if a bunch of people are sick and not at work and I’m having to do their jobs along with my own.”
A colleague who oversees traffic in the busy New York City area described a recent night shift where they were the sole certified controller during a challenging weather situation, stating, “It was a terrible situation to be stuck in.”
Another added, “It’s clear that the government only pays lip service to the value of our profession. Otherwise, why would they jeopardize hundreds of thousands of people’s lives every day this way?”
Legally, air traffic controllers cannot conduct strikes or coordinate absences, a restriction that union leaders have reinforced throughout the current shutdown.
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches—a peak travel season—controllers worry about the potential for increased disruptions. The Midwest controller warned, “I think you’re going to see probably the worst day of travel in the history of flight.”
The situation remains precarious as air traffic controllers stand at a crossroads, grappling with the direct consequences of an extended unpaid workload amid a crisis that threatens the core of U.S. air travel.
Without a resolution to the shutdown, air traffic controllers may find themselves further stretched, risking both their financial stability and the safety of travelers nationwide.
image source from：npr
