The government shutdown continued into the new week.
The government shutdown has stretched into its second week. As warned, flight delays have started climbing as air traffic controllers call in sick across the U.S. Ripple effects are being seen around New York, Los Angeles, Nashville, and Denver.
Since Monday, flights have faced disruptions, and air traffic control facilities have been left without adequate staff to direct flights. Burbank Airport in California closed its air traffic control tower for several hours due to a staffing shortage, and the San Diego facility took over. Pilots also communicated with each other, CNN reported, and announced their positions directly.
Nashville had similar issues and shut down on Tuesday for several hours. Other airports, including those in Houston, Newark, Boston, Denver, and Las Vegas, also did not have enough staff this week.
On Tuesday, more than 3,600 flights in the U.S. were delayed, and 70 were canceled. Nashville faced an average delay of more than two hours, while in Dallas, passengers had to wait 30 minutes longer, and delays in Chicago averaged 40 minutes. By Wednesday morning, the number of delays had already surpassed 460.
The situation is reminiscent of the 2019 shutdown, when the federal government shutdown caused disruptions in the airspace and controllers called in sick in large numbers, partly forcing President Trump to end the shutdown.
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has furloughed more than 11,000 people. But air traffic controllers are considered essential workers, and more than 13,000 of these highly skilled individuals are working without pay.
The nation’s largest labor union representing air traffic controllers, NATCA (National Air Traffic Controllers Association), posted a message on its website calling for solidarity. It also denounced any activity that may harm their image and reputation, saying, “Participating in a job action could result in removal from federal service. It is not only illegal, but it also undermines NATCA’s credibility and severely weakens our ability to effectively advocate for you and your families.”
During the last shutdown, controllers were forced to take second jobs to make ends meet, the statement said. “A government shutdown adds unnecessary distraction to their work, adding strain on a workforce that is already stretched thin working 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, operating the most complex airspace in the world.”
Controllers navigate 50,000 flights across the country every day. However, this branch of aviation is understaffed, and it has become apparent with this shutdown that the system is fragile. The union also said, “NATCA has consistently warned that the controller staffing shortage leaves the system vulnerable, and today’s events underscore the urgent need to accelerate training and hiring.”
Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed on Monday that there has been an uptick in sick days, but it has been spread throughout the country and not focused on a specific facility.
However, he acknowledged that the financial instability caused by missed paychecks is expected to stress the workforce. “Now what they think about as they’re controlling our airspace is: ‘How am I going to pay my mortgage? How do I make my car payment? I have a couple kids at home, how do I put food on the table? I’m working six days a week, so I have to take a second job and drive Uber when I’m already exhausted from doing a job that’s already stressful, to think about how I can make extra money because the government may not provide me a paycheck?’”
Air traffic controllers will receive a partial paycheck on October 14, but if the shutdown continues, they will not be paid on October 28, although they are expected to receive back pay.
