Staffing shortages have resulted in increased flight delays across U.S. airports as the federal government shutdown enters its seventh day.
Union leaders representing air traffic controllers and airport security screeners are warning that the situation is likely to worsen.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has flagged staffing issues at numerous airports, including those in Nashville, Boston, Dallas, Chicago, and Philadelphia.
Additionally, air traffic control centers in Atlanta, Houston, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area are facing similar staffing challenges.
This has led the FAA to temporarily slow down the takeoff of planes bound for Nashville, Boston, and Dallas to ensure safety due to the lack of available controllers.
The previous day, flight disruptions were also attributed to insufficient staffing during the shutdown, which began on October 1.
The FAA noted problems at Burbank, California; Newark, New Jersey; and Denver, indicating a trend that could affect the aviation industry significantly if the shutdown continues.
Despite these challenges, around 92% of the more than 23,600 flights departing from U.S. airports were reported to have taken off on time as of Tuesday afternoon, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
However, travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt cautions that the potential for broader disruptions to the U.S. aviation system is increasing with each passing day of the shutdown.
Harteveldt expressed grave concerns that prolonged government closure could significantly disrupt holiday travel plans in November, particularly affecting millions of Americans during the Thanksgiving holiday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted an increase in air traffic controllers calling in sick, which further exacerbates the staffing issue.
Without enough controllers on duty, the FAA is compelled to limit takeoffs and landings, leading to unavoidable delays and possible cancellations of flights.
For instance, on Monday afternoon, the control tower at Hollywood Burbank Airport in Southern California was shut down for several hours, resulting in average delays of up to two-and-a-half hours.
A pilot radioing the tower for takeoff was informed, “The tower is closed due to staffing.”
Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, emphasized that the shutdown shines a light on persistent issues faced by air traffic controllers, including a critically understaffed national airspace system that relies on outdated equipment prone to failure.
Just a couple of controllers calling out sick can lead to significant operational impacts at smaller airports with limited tower staffing, Daniels noted.
He remarked that there are not enough controllers available to be redeployed to busy facilities, making the situation even more precarious.
As the scheduled payday approaches next week, air traffic controllers and TSA officers are expected to face increased pressure if they do not receive their paychecks during the ongoing shutdown.
If the impasse between lawmakers continues, these workers will be under extreme financial stress, as their personal bills come due.
Daniels stated, “It’s completely unfair that an air traffic controller is the one that holds the burden of ‘see how long you can hang in there in order to allow this political process to play out.'”
Meanwhile, Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the American Federation of Government Employees chapter, which includes TSA workers, reported growing concerns from members regarding their ability to meet financial obligations, such as child support and mortgage payments.
He noted that some TSA officers have already called in sick but did not believe these absences were significant enough to create substantial delays at airports currently.
Consequently, aviation unions and U.S. airlines have united in their calls for an immediate resolution to the government shutdown.
In response to the ongoing crisis, unions are reaching out to food banks, grocery chains, and airports to secure support for federal workers affected by the shutdown.
For instance, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has begun providing federal workers with $15 food vouchers and has made provisions for them to park in the terminal.
John Tiliacos, chief operating officer of Tampa International Airport in Florida, revealed that the facility had prepared for the shutdown well in advance.
Tiliacos described their efforts as “Operation Bald Eagle 2,” which focuses on gathering resources for the approximately 1,100 federal employees working at the airport without pay, including security screeners and air traffic controllers.
Among the planned support initiatives are the establishment of a food pantry, free bus transportation to work, and partnerships with local utility providers to help keep workers’ homes lit during this difficult time.
“Whatever we can do to make life a little easier for these federal employees, allowing them to stay focused on keeping our airport operational, that’s what we’re prepared to do,” Tiliacos stated.
image source from：pennlive
