Massive Flight Delays Hit US Airports Amid Government Shutdown
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed late Sunday that air traffic control staffing shortages caused significant flight delays across major US airports as the government shutdown entered its 19th day.
Key Impact Areas
Staffing issues primarily affected airports in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, and Newark. The FAA reported receiving numerous staffing triggers for evening shifts, with potential delays extending to Las Vegas and Phoenix due to controller absences.
Flight tracking service FlightAware recorded over 5,800 delayed flights on Sunday alone. Additional factors contributing to disruptions included weather conditions and a Formula 1 race in Austin.
Airline-Specific Disruptions
More than 20% of American Airlines and Southwest Airlines flights experienced delays on Sunday, according to FlightAware data.
Staffing Crisis Deepens
Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers continue working without pay during the shutdown. The FAA faces a 3,500 controller shortage against targeted staffing levels, with many controllers working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown began.
Earlier this month, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed that staffing issues accounted for 53% of flight delays, compared to just 5% under normal circumstances.
Political Standoff Continues
Air traffic control has become a central point in the shutdown debate, with both political parties trading blame. Airlines and unions have intensified calls for a resolution to the standoff.
The situation echoes the 2019 35-day shutdown when controller and TSA absences spiked as workers missed paychecks, forcing authorities to slow air traffic in New York and Washington.
