The Points Guy founder Brian Kelly explains how the government shutdown is exacerbating FAA and air traffic controller staffing shortages on “The Claman Countdown.”
The Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday issued an updated operations plan detailing how staffing shortages and weather continue to impact the nation’s air traffic control (ATC) facilities.
The FAA has identified at least nine ATC facilities as affected by staffing shortages and weather conditions:
- PHL AREA C (Newark)
- BDL (Hartford-Bradley)
- ZDC AREA 5 (Washington, DC)
- SEW AREA D (Boston/Northeast)
- ROA Ops (Roanoke, Virginia tower)
- ORD Ops (Chicago Tower)
- F11 Ops (Central Florida)
- ZAB Southeast/Southwest AREA (Albuquerque Center, covering Arizona and New Mexico)
- SID AREA 1 (Indianapolis)
FAA PROPOSES NATIONAL FLIGHT DISRUPTIONS AS SHORTAGE OF AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER REACH MAJOR AIRPORTS
Air traffic controllers are not showing up for work because the government shutdown is forcing employees to work without pay. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images/Getty Images)
As of Friday morning, the FAA’s Air Traffic Control System Command Center website showed no active ground delays at any airport and said, “Air traffic is currently experiencing delays of less than 15 minutes.”
However, ground delays were reported Thursday evening in Houston, Calgary, LaGuardia (LGA) and Newark (EWR) due to staff shortages, weather, poor visibility and wind.
A flight status board in Terminal C at Orlando International Airport showing many delays. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel/Tribune News Service via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The update comes amid nationwide air traffic disruptions caused by the federal government shutdown.
Previous reports from Fox Business cited controller shortages in Washington, Philadelphia, Albuquerque, Denver, Los Angeles and Central Florida, with more than 2,000 delays and 50 cancellations reported Wednesday.
AMERICAN AIRLINES JET CANCELS TAKE-OFF AFTER LAX RUNWAY CALL
“Normally about 5% of flight delays are due to staff shortages. In recent days that number has increased to 53% due to understaffing,” Duffy said.
Travelers wait in line for their delayed luggage after United Airlines grounded flights. (Ryan Murphy/Reuters)
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He added that many inspectors were working longer shifts and emphasized that “safety comes first.”
On Thursday evening, the FAA said there was no national ground stop in effect and flights were being managed through standard traffic initiatives.
