Over 8,000 U.S. Flights Delayed Amid Air Traffic Staff Shortages

More than 8,000 flights across the United States were delayed on Sunday as air traffic controller absences continued to disrupt travel while the federal government shutdown entered its 26th day.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported staffing issues at 22 control centers on Saturday, warning that continued shortages could lead to more flight delays and cancellations in the coming days.

According to FlightAware, more than 8,000 U.S. flights were delayed by 11 p.m. ET on Sunday, up from about 5,300 the previous day. Flight disruptions have remained above average since the shutdown began on October 1.

Southwest Airlines saw the highest impact, with 45% of its flights—around 2,000—delayed. American Airlines reported delays on nearly 1,200 flights, United Airlines on 739, and Delta Air Lines on 610, according to FlightAware.

Roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers are currently working without pay during the shutdown. Many are reportedly seeking second jobs or other income sources as they face missing their first full paycheck this week.

The FAA confirmed staffing-triggered ground delays at major airports including Chicago O’Hare, Washington Reagan National, and Newark Liberty, while a temporary ground stop at Los Angeles International was later lifted.

Duffy described the situation as one of the worst since the shutdown began, saying, “Controllers are wearing thin.”

The FAA remains short about 3,500 controllers even under normal operations, with many working mandatory overtime before the shutdown. The agency warns that further absences could soon cause wider disruptions, echoing the 35-day government shutdown in 2019 that slowed air traffic at major airports and extended passenger wait times.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, reuters.com, yahoo.com