Air travel delays are being experienced at major airports in New York, Washington, Newark, and Houston due to air traffic control staffing challenges amid the ongoing U.S. government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported staffing issues at 10 locations, leading to ground stops at Houston Bush and Newark airports. Flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport were seeing an average delay of 31 minutes, while delays at New York LaGuardia were averaging 62 minutes.
Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are working without pay during the shutdown. FlightAware, a flight tracking platform, indicated over 4,200 U.S. flights faced delays on Thursday, with Reagan, Newark, and LaGuardia airports experiencing delays in 15% or more of their flights, and 13% at Houston Bush.
Concerns are rising about potential controller absences increasing over the weekend, as they anticipate missing their first full paycheck next Tuesday. The White House Press Secretary warned of possible significant flight disruptions and cancellations during the holiday season if the situation persists.
The blame game continues between Democrats and U.S. President Donald Trump and Republicans regarding the shutdown’s responsibility. The shutdown has made air traffic control a focal point of the debate, with unions and airlines urging a swift resolution to the impasse.
During a 35-day shutdown in 2019, the number of absences among controllers and TSA officers rose as they missed paychecks, leading to extended wait times at airport checkpoints. Air traffic in New York and Washington was slowed down, pressuring lawmakers to resolve the standoff. The FAA is currently facing a shortage of about 3,500 air traffic controllers from its target levels, with many already working extensive hours even before the shutdown.
