As the government shutdown enters its second week, the ripple effects are beginning to be felt in the aviation sector, particularly due to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers. While airlines and officials report minimal disruption so far, the situation remains precarious.
More than 100 flights were delayed at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport by Tuesday afternoon, as per FlightAware data. The airport, which serves as a key hub for American Airlines and a base for Southwest Airlines, experienced five cancellations and numerous delays, though spokesperson Greg Roybal noted that significant operational impacts are not expected in the immediate future.
The Department of Transportation states that 13,294 air traffic controllers are currently working without pay, a situation compounded by a slight increase in sick calls, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy. “You’ll see delays that come from that,” Duffy remarked during a visit to Newark Liberty International Airport, one of several affected by ground delays alongside Denver International.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued an advisory highlighting Phoenix among four airports potentially impacted by staffing shortages, along with eight regional centers where safety concerns have restricted normal air traffic operations.
On Monday, staffing shortages led to the closure of the air traffic control tower at California’s Hollywood Burbank Airport for nearly six hours. Meanwhile, Arizona traveler Ryan Relken, who flew in from Detroit, reported an on-time landing but expressed concerns about future impacts if the shutdown continues without resolution.
“I don’t think the ripple effects have been felt yet, especially when it starts to hit people’s paychecks,” Relken commented. “Hopefully, the government gets this figured out quickly, because those people deserve to be paid, too.”
Airlines for America, representing major U.S. carriers, acknowledged the current strain on air travel, cautioning that the effects could intensify. “When federal employees who manage air traffic, inspect aircraft and secure our nation’s aviation system are furloughed or working without pay, the entire industry and millions of Americans feel the strain,” the group stated.
The FAA’s contingency plan during the shutdown involves furloughing 11,000 employees while mandating that air traffic controllers continue their duties without pay. Similarly, essential workers such as TSA officers and Customs and Border Protection agents, under the Department of Homeland Security, are required to remain on duty.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, representing nearly 20,000 aviation safety personnel, stresses the obligation of essential workers to report to work despite the shutdown. “Participating in a job action could result in removal from federal service,” the union warned via its website.
In response to the challenges posed by air-traffic constraints, Southwest Airlines stated it is in close communication with the FAA and will adjust its schedule as necessary.
The U.S. air traffic control system has long struggled with staffing shortages, with mandatory overtime being a persistent issue. During the previous government shutdown spanning late 2018 to early 2019, a similar scenario occurred at New York’s LaGuardia Airport when six controllers called out sick, delaying 600 flights.
With reporting from Laura Daniella Sepúlveda in Phoenix.
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