Flight delays pile up as government shutdown enters second month
As the government shutdown approaches its second month, airports across the country are feeling the effects, with flight delays piling up due to staff shortages.
This weekend, travel conditions were the most difficult at dozens of U.S. airports, where lines of frustrated travelers seemed endless. More than 5,000 flights to and from U.S. airports were delayed on Sunday alone. As the shutdown continues, more delays and cancellations can be expected, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Air traffic controllers, who are relied on to coordinate planes in the airspace and must work as essential workers during a government shutdown, are working without pay. Duffy said he wanted them to return to work, adding that those who didn’t would receive disappointing pay at the end of the week.
“None of them can miss two paychecks,” Duffy said Monday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “They’re all starting out: Their household finances are collapsing, and they’re all going to have to consider taking a second job or quitting and moving into another line of work. And the consequences of that are very real for our airline system.”
Duffy stressed the urgent need for air traffic controllers, adding that the system is short 2,000 to 3,000 controllers.
“I’m trying to get more air traffic controllers into the system,” he said.
As of Monday morning, more than 900 flights to and from U.S. airports were delayed and more than 430 were canceled, according to FlightAware.com. John F. Kennedy International Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport account for the bulk of that, with more than 110 delays and 16 cancellations between them.
It was not immediately clear whether staff shortages were directly to blame for Monday’s delays and cancellations.
The unpredictable flight schedule has frustrated travelers. Many question the safety of air travel if control towers are not fully staffed.
Duffy said the delays and cancellations are an attempt to make air travel safer.
“You’ll see more delays, you’ll see more flight cancellations, and that’s because we’re slowing down traffic because we don’t have enough controllers in the towers and the TRACONs to make sure we can direct the flights,” he said, referring to the terminals’ radar approach control facilities. “So it’s a tool that we have to keep the system secure.”
If air travel wasn’t safe, the Department of Transportation would “close all airspace,” Duffy said.
“We won’t let people travel,” he said. “We’re not there at that point. These are just significant delays.”
