Flight Delays at Some U.S. Airports for Second Consecutive Day Due to Air Traffic Controller Shortage
A shortage of personnel in air traffic control is causing significant delays at several U.S. airports for the second consecutive day, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) this Tuesday, as the government shutdown enters its seventh day.
Nashville and Newark Among Most Affected Airports
According to the FAA notice, Nashville and Newark airports are among the most impacted by the staff shortage. In Newark, arriving flights are being held for up to 30 minutes, while in Nashville, operations will be reduced throughout the day. Flight approaches in that area will be handled by the Memphis Center, the agency added.
Chicago O’Hare Reduces Arrivals Per Hour
The FAA also limited the number of flights that can land per hour at Chicago O’Hare Airport, causing average delays of 41 minutes. In turn, similar problems were reported at the Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Center, where staffing is also facing significant shortfalls.
Bad Weather Worsens Situation
Compounding the staff shortage is bad weather affecting flights in different parts of the country, further complicating air operations.
→ FAA Extends Flight Reductions at Newark Airport Until October 2026
The government shutdown is forcing approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers to continue working without receiving their pay. Controllers will receive a partial payment on October 14 for hours worked before the shutdown began.
Fewer Staff and Increased Absenteeism
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy explained on Monday that the FAA has seen a slight increase in medical leave among controllers. In some areas, staffing levels have been reduced by up to 50% since the shutdown began last week.
“If we don’t have enough controllers, we must ensure the safety of the airspace. To achieve that, we reduce traffic,” Duffy stated on Tuesday on Fox News’s “Fox and Friends” program.
Over 2,500 Flights Delayed
According to the tracking website FlightAware, over 2,500 flights experienced delays this Tuesday. In Nashville, about 200 flights—20% of its operations—were delayed, while at Chicago O’Hare, nearly 500 flights were reported affected, equivalent to over 15% of the total.
A Worrying Precedent
The situation is reminiscent of the 2019 government shutdown, which lasted 35 days. On that occasion, the number of absences among controllers and TSA agents increased as employees stopped receiving their paychecks, leading to longer wait times at security checkpoints.
Ultimately, authorities were forced to reduce air traffic in New York, which pressured Congress to reach a deal and end the shutdown.
With information from Reuters.
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