Air Travel Chaos Escalates Amid Federal Shutdown
Over 4,300 flights were delayed nationwide as the government shutdown left air traffic controllers and TSA officers working without pay. Staffing shortages notably affected flights across the Southeast, while the FAA implemented ground delays at key airports. Mounting frustration pressures lawmakers for resolution.
The chaos in air travel worsened with over 4,300 flight delays on Monday following the more than 8,800 delays on Sunday. The primary cause: rising absences among air traffic controllers as the federal government shutdown dragged into its 27th day.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported significant staffing shortages impacting flights both in the Southeast of the U.S. and at Newark Airport in New Jersey. Additionally, Austin Airport in Texas faced a ground stop, and the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport experienced a ground delay program causing average delays of 18 minutes.
Despite these operational challenges, major airlines like Southwest, American, United, and Delta faced hefty delays, compounded by the lack of pay for approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers. As public frustration mounts, pressure is intensifying on lawmakers to urgently address and resolve the budget impasse behind the shutdown.
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