Air Traffic Woes: How the Government Shutdown is Messing Up Your Flights

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is facing significant challenges managing flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and Dallas Fort Worth International Airport. The issue stems from a lack of air traffic controllers reporting to work, exacerbated by the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 30th day.

Flight Delays and Ground Stops

• Reagan Airport: Flights are running 91 minutes behind schedule.
• Dallas Airport: Delays average 21 minutes.
• Orlando Airport: Next in line for disruptions.

Tens of thousands of flights have already been delayed or canceled due to staffing shortages.

Earlier on Thursday, the FAA issued a ground stop at Reagan Airport, halting all takeoffs and landings until conditions improved. Bad weather in the Northeast has further complicated the situation.

Unpaid Workers and Rising Delays

• 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay.
• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy reported:
• 44% of flight delays on Sunday were due to missing controllers.
• 24% of delays on Monday were controller-related.
• Pre-shutdown, this figure was only 5%.

Staffing Crisis Deepens

The FAA is already short-staffed by 3,500 controllers. Even before the shutdown, controllers were working long hours and six-day weeks. The current situation is unsustainable.