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More than 8,000 flights were delayed across the United States on Sunday as staff shortages among air traffic controllers continued to disrupt travel, while the federal government shutdown entered its 26th day, officials said, according to Reuters.
According to flight-tracking website FlightAware, more than 8,000 US flights were delayed by 11 pm ET on Sunday (0400 GMT Monday), up from around 5,300 on Saturday. Delays have remained above average since the government shutdown began on October 1.
Southwest Airlines reported the highest impact, with 45 per cent of its flights, nearly 2,000, delayed. American Airlines saw 1,200 delays, or roughly one-third of its schedule, while United Airlines and Delta Air Lines recorded 739 and 610 delayed flights respectively, FlightAware data showed.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had faced air traffic control staffing shortages at 22 locations on Saturday and warned of further disruptions. “That’s a sign that the controllers are wearing thin,” Duffy told Fox News, adding that the figure was among the highest seen since the shutdown began.
The FAA said it implemented ground delay programs on Sunday at major hubs, including Chicago O’Hare, Washington Reagan National, and Newark Liberty airports. A temporary ground stop was also issued earlier in the day at Los Angeles International Airport, but was later lifted.
Around 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are continuing to work without pay during the shutdown. The Trump administration has warned that flight disruptions are likely to worsen as controllers miss their first full October paycheck on Tuesday.
Controllers received 90per cent of their regular pay two weeks ago, but the upcoming payday would have been the first entirely without compensation. “They’re taking second jobs, they’re out there looking,” Duffy said according to Reuters, noting that some controllers are seeking alternative income sources to cope.
The FAA is currently about 3,500 controllers short of its target staffing level, and many employees have already been working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks.
Observers say the growing travel chaos could increase public pressure on lawmakers to end the budget impasse that has paralysed parts of the federal government. Duffy and other Republicans have criticised Democrats for refusing to support a “clean” temporary funding bill, while Democrats have accused President Donald Trump and Republicans of blocking talks over health care subsidies set to expire later this year.
A similar standoff in 2019 led to a 35-day shutdown, during which widespread absences among controllers and TSA officers forced authorities to slow air traffic in New York and Washington, extending passenger wait times at airport checkpoints.
(With inputs from agencies)
