More than 8,000 US flights delayed as air traffic control absences persist
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A traveller walks through Chicago O'Hare International Airport, where ground delay programmes has been issued, as the US government shutdown continues.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – More than 8,000 flights were delayed across the US on Oct 26 as air traffic controller absences continued to disrupt travel and a federal government shutdown reached its 26th day.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) experienced air traffic control staffing issues at 22 locations on Oct 25, and additional shortages were expected to lead to more flight delays and cancellations in the days ahead.
According to FlightAware, a flight-tracking website, there were more than 8,000 US flight delays by 11pm ET on Oct 26 (11am Singapore time on Oct 27), an increase from about 5,300 on Oct 25. Delays have often been above average since the government shutdown began on Oct 1.
Southwest Airlines had 45 per cent, or 2,000 flights, delayed on Oct 26. American Airlines had nearly 1,200, or a third of its flights, delayed, according to FlightAware. United Airlines had 24 per cent, or 739 flights, delayed. Delta Air Lines had 610 flights, or 17 per cent, delayed.
Some 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers must work even though they are not being paid during the government shutdown
Increased air travel delays and cancellations are being closely watched as observers look for indications that the shutdown is making life harder for Americans. That, in turn, could pressure lawmakers to break the budget deadlock that led to the shutdown.
The FAA on Oct 25 had 22 “triggers” that indicated shortages of air traffic controllers, Mr Duffy told the Fox News Sunday Morning Futures programme.
He said the figure was “one of the highest that we’ve seen in the system” since Oct 1.
“That’s a sign that the controllers are wearing thin,” Mr Duffy said.
The FAA said ground delay programmes had been issued because of staffing shortages on Oct 26 at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport, Washington’s Reagan National Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport. An earlier ground stop was issued at Los Angeles International Airport, but that was later withdrawn.
The Trump administration has warned that flight disruptions will increase as controllers miss their first full pay cheque on Oct 28.
Air traffic controllers received a pay cheque two weeks ago at 90 per cent of their regular pay. But the payday on Oct 28 would have been for their first pay period solely for work in October.
Controllers facing the prospect of missing a federal pay cheque are looking for other sources of income, Mr Duffy said.
“They’re taking second jobs, they’re out there looking,” he said.
The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels and many had been working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown.
In 2019, during a 35-day shutdown, the number of absences by controllers and TSA officers rose as workers missed pay cheques, extending wait times at some airport checkpoints. The authorities were forced to slow air traffic in New York and Washington.
Mr Duffy and other Republicans have criticised Democrats for opposing a “clean” short-term funding Bill with no strings attached.
Democrats have criticised President Donald Trump and Republicans for refusing to negotiate over healthcare subsidies that expire at the end of 2025. REUTERS
