Government Shutdown Causes Air Traffic Delays at Major U.S. Airports

The ongoing government shutdown has resulted in significant flight delays at major U.S. airports due to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. On Thursday evening, Orlando International Airport (MCO) experienced a ground delay, with incoming flights delayed by an average of 2.7 hours between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. ET, according to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) advisory. Earlier, the FAA indicated that the airport was temporarily unable to land arriving flights due to a lack of certified air traffic controllers. This situation was later addressed with an increase in staffing at the F11 Central Florida Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facility.

A spokesperson for MCO attributed the ground delay to staffing issues, noting that the delay program reduced the rate of arrivals, causing passengers to experience average delays of approximately 2.5 hours. Similarly, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, faced ground delays averaging 90 minutes from 1:30 p.m. Thursday to 1 a.m. Friday, also due to staffing shortages, as reported by the FAA.

These disruptions are part of a broader trend affecting American airports, which are grappling with staffing shortages, delays, and cancellations as air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration workers continue to work without pay during the shutdown. Earlier in the week, flights bound for Los Angeles International Airport were halted due to a staffing shortage, resulting in a temporary ground stop and average delays of one hour and 40 minutes.

On Tuesday, federal employees, including air traffic controllers, received paychecks reflecting zero dollars as the shutdown extended beyond 30 days. In response, Delta Air Lines urged Congress to reopen the government immediately, warning that missing paychecks "only increases the stress on these essential workers, many of whom are already working mandatory overtime to keep our skies safe and secure."

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a labor union and aviation safety organization, has called for an end to the shutdown, highlighting that air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals often work grueling schedules of six days a week and 10-hour days. Since the shutdown began, some have taken on second jobs to support their families and pay bills.