🔗 Share this article American Airport Chaos Deepens as Staffing Shortages Escalate During Government Shutdown Passengers across the United States are bracing for increasing disruptions as airport staffing shortages further deteriorate during the current government closure, now entering its seventh consecutive day. Growing Concerns Over Aviation System Union representatives for air traffic controllers and TSA agents have cautioned that the circumstances is likely to deteriorate, with workforce issues documented at multiple key airports including locations such as Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville and Philadelphia. "The risk of wider impacts to the American air travel network continues to increase by the day," commented aviation expert Henry Harteveldt. He expressed grave concern that should the closure persist, it could potentially disrupt millions of Americans' holiday travel arrangements in November. Flight Delays and Operational Issues Staffing shortages, featuring an elevated number of workers taking sick leave, affected key facilities around Denver, Los Angeles and New York on Monday, resulting in postponements affecting more than 6,000 flights across the country. Burbank airport's air traffic control was briefly shut down and responsibilities were managed by a different location The Nashville facility reported postponements averaging 120 minutes due to staffing issues O'Hare Airport in Chicago recorded typical postponements of 41 minutes The DFW airport experienced delays logged at half an hour Industry Response and Union Position The primary air traffic controllers union emphasized that it does not endorse any organized actions that could negatively affect the National Airspace System. The union stated that flight controllers take their responsibility to protect public safety very seriously and engaging in any work stoppage could result in termination of employment. Official Viewpoint Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy alerted that the national flight control network is suffering damage from the ongoing government shutdown. "They're not just thinking about the flight paths," he commented regarding air traffic controllers who are not receiving salaries. "They're thinking about, 'Am I going to get a salary'?" He noted that many controllers depend on regular income and are unable to manage extended periods without payment. Broader Implications Based on contingency planning, roughly 25% of the workforce, or more than 11,000 FAA employees, were temporarily laid off when the closure started last week. Nevertheless, thirteen thousand flight controllers remain on duty, with recruitment and instruction continuing as well. Labor leader Nick Daniels pointed out that the shutdown has emphasized preexisting issues faced by air traffic controllers, including staff shortages and outdated equipment. He clarified that the situation is especially serious at smaller airports where reduced personnel creates additional challenges. Despite the extensive postponements, aviation analytics indicated that roughly ninety-two percent of departures from American airports departed as scheduled as of Tuesday afternoon. The aviation regulator had not activated a "workforce threshold" that would decrease the number of flights in and out of airports, suggesting that operations were proceeding despite the difficulties.