"The ongoing government shutdown continues to disrupt flights at times and put pressure on air traffic controllers who are working without pay. On Friday evening, airports in Phoenix, Houston and San Diego were reporting delays because of staffing issues, and the Federal Aviation Administration warned that staffing problems were also possible at airports in the New York area, Dallas and Philadelphia."
"Many Federal Aviation Administration facilities are so critically short on controllers that just a few absences can cause disruptions, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that more air traffic controllers have been calling in sick since the shutdown began. Early on in the shutdown, there were a number of disruptions at airports across the country, but for the past couple of weeks, there haven't been as many problems."
"Duffy said the disruptions and delays will only get worse next week after Tuesday's payday arrives and "their paycheck is going to be a big fat zero." He said controllers are telling him they are worried about how to pay their bills and frustrated with the shutdown. "The stress level that our controllers are under right now, I think is unacceptable," he said at a news conference Friday at the Philadelphia airport"
The government shutdown is causing air traffic controller shortages and staffing problems that are disrupting flights and producing delays at multiple U.S. airports. Airports in Phoenix, Houston, San Diego, New York area, Dallas and Philadelphia reported or were warned of staffing-related delays. Nationwide flight delays rose to 6,158 on Thursday, up from around 4,000 earlier in the week. Many FAA facilities are critically short of controllers, and increased call-ins and unpaid work are raising stress and financial concerns. Some controller trainees have left the profession, threatening long-term hiring and training efforts since controller training takes years.
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