US airports hit by major delays from record-breaking government shutdown

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), an increase in air traffic controller absences has caused significant delays and cancellations at airports across the country. They are currently experiencing “immense stress and fatigue” as a result of the ongoing, record-breaking US government shutdown.

According to FlightAware, a US website that provides real-time flight tracking, more than 16, 700 US flights were delayed over the weekend and 2, 282 were canceled.

More than 4, 000 delays and 600 cancellations were reported by FlightAware across major airports like Chicago O’Hare, Dallas Fort Worth, Denver, and Newark through Monday evening in the US.

According to the FAA, the shutdown caused staffing shortages at half of its “Core 30” facilities at major US airports, with absences reaching 80% at New York-area airports.

Nearly 13, 000 air traffic controllers have been avoiding pay for the past few weeks, ensuring the safety of more than 50, 000 daily operations throughout the national airspace system (NAS).

Staffing levels are putting pressure on as we approach the weekend as a rise in calls out…

Air traffic controllers, who work for nearly 13, 000 people in the US, are considered to be “essential workers,” which means they have been unpaid since the government’s shutdown started on October 1.

However, according to the FAA, there had been a rise in absences, which had forced it to&nbsp reduce the flow of air traffic in the US to maintain safety standards.

The FAA stated on X on Friday that “the shutdown must end so that these controllers receive the pay they’ve earned and that travelers can avoid additional delays and disruptions.” The FAA will slow down air traffic when staffing shortages occur to ensure safety. This could cause cancellations or delays.

On Sunday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated on the Face the Nation program on CBS News that the delays will continue to protect airline safety.

“We make sure the system is secure all the time.” According to a transcript of the program, Duffy stated that we would slow down traffic, cause delays, and cancel flights to ensure the safety of the system.

Duffy claimed that air traffic controllers would not be fired despite using their vacations to pursue other jobs. I won’t fire air traffic controllers when they decide to feed their families, he said.

The US government shutdown is expected to reach its 35th day on Tuesday, making it the longest shutdown in US history to date. It will surpass the US shutdown from 2018 to 2019.