As the U.S. federal government shutdown stretches into its fourth week, travelers are increasingly facing disruptions. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and major carriers are reporting mounting delays and ground-stop incidents attributed to staffing shortfalls among air traffic controllers and security personnel.
Flight-tracking services indicate that more than 8,600 flights were delayed on Sunday alone, with over 2,700 additional delays reported on Monday, according to Reuters. The FAA confirmed over 20 staffing-trigger incidents, including a brief ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Oct. 26 due to control-tower shortages.
Officials say the pressure is mounting. Sean Duffy, the U.S. Transportation Secretary, warned that the system is “wearing thin” as approximately 13,000 controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers continue working without pay. Controllers now account for roughly 53 percent of all flight delays—up from the usual 5 percent—a dramatic jump since the shutdown began.
For travellers, these disruptions translate into longer waits, delayed departures and increased re-booking headaches. Airlines, including Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines logged double-digit delay rates this week, according to Reuters.
Here’s a look at the situation as of Oct. 27:
- Weekend air traffic control staffing shortages intensified, fueling fears of increased disruptions. With over 50 staffing gaps reported since Friday, Oct. 24, flights were delayed at Reagan National and halted at LAX, grounding flights from Oakland and delaying travelers across the Bay Area.
- Controllers must work without pay as essential employees, and experts warn that problems will persist until paychecks resume.
- Some National Parks remain open but with limited accessibility and operations, given that about 9,000 park employees are furloughed.
