Flight Delays Surge as Government Shutdown Deepens

As the U.S. federal government shutdown stretches into its 30th day, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is grappling with significant staffing shortages, leading to flight delays at major airports including Ronald Reagan Washington National and Dallas Fort Worth International.

Flight operations have been particularly disrupted at Reagan, with delays averaging 91 minutes, while Dallas experiences 21-minute holds. The FAA anticipates further delays in Orlando due to insufficient air traffic control staffing.

In addition to the shutdown, adverse weather is impacting flight schedules in the U.S. northeast. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy highlighted a stark increase in delays linked to controller absences, and the FAA remains under-resourced by approximately 3,500 air traffic controllers.