The airport is getting worse in southern California; The fear of the holidays arises
The government shutdown is starting to cause ongoing delays at airports across the country due to a shortage of air traffic controllers that could worsen as the busy holiday travel season approaches.
Airport disruptions have been mostly sporadic. But this weekend was the worst for air traffic control workers since the shutdown began last month. The Federal Aviation Administration reported Friday that a “surge in callouts” among air traffic controllers has left at least half of the nation’s 30 busiest airlines out of service, leading to widespread delays.
Two airports in southern California – Los Angeles International Airport and San Diego International Airport – Average flight delays of at least one hour on Sunday.
And it could just start as a government shutdown, soon expected to be the longest on record, heads into its second month at the same time as travelers prepare to fly to spend time with loved ones for the Thanksgiving holiday.
“I think it’s only going to grow,” said Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy in an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
About 13,000 Air Traffic Controllers have been working without pay for weeks, resulting in high levels of fatigue and stress among workers tasked with keeping the storm safe while grappling with financial pressures.
The most recent nationwide delays began Thursday when the FAA issued an advisory that there would be “No confirmed traffic controls available” at Orlando International Airport. Overnight, the airport reported delays of up to three hours, with some flights delayed or cancelled.
On Friday, the FAA reported that staffing shortages have caused delays to airline flights, including Sunday’s, with more than 16,000 flights in, to or from the United States experiencing delays. On Monday morning, more than 2,200 flights were delayed, according to Flaaware.
On Sunday, the FAA issued an advisory saying delays are expected to be extended by 1½ hours.
On Monday afternoon, departures from airports in Texas – Dallas Fort Field International, Dallas Love Field and Austin-Bergstrom International – were delayed due to staffing issues, according to the FAA.
The longer the shutdown lasts, the more cautious travelers should expect, especially as winter weather worsens and demand for air increases, experts say.
“We’re going to continue to snowball,” said Tim Kiefer, assistant professor of air traffic control at Empry-Riddle Aeronautical University. “And as we get closer to the holiday season, obviously Thanksgiving, you’re going to start to see more of this fatigue, and you’re going to start to see fewer and fewer traffic controllers showing up.”
The problem comes as Americans begin to travel by air in large numbers, which again comes from the travel pandemic.
In 2024, the FAA reported more than 232,000 flights across the US between November 24 and 28, a record for the season. At LAX, one of the nation’s busiest airports, officials had predicted that 2.2 million passengers would travel through the airport over the Thanksgiving holiday last year.
When there are staff shortages, the FAA said it will reduce the flow of air traffic in an effort to maintain safety, resulting in flight delays or cancellations.
Thomas Anthony, director of the Aviation and Security program at USC, said that while the public’s focus has been on air traffic control positions, there are workers in other jobs working through the shutdown. This can also affect getting through slow airport security lines, flight delays and cancellations.
“Air traffic controllers are just the tip of a much larger iceberg,” Anthony said.
The FAA has been dealing with a shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers for years. This means that the current controllers work six-day shifts a week and sometimes work up to 10 hours a day. Now, they don’t get paid, Kiefer said.
Air Traffic Control workers receive partial pay in mid-October and no pay at all in the last week. Many have continued to work while others have been forced to take on side jobs to make ends meet. Tiredness and worrying about how they’re going to pay their bills will have a negative impact on air safety, Kiefer said.
“Now, is air travel unsafe? No, air travel is unsafe, but it would be safe if you didn’t have the government shutdown,” Kiefer said. “You’ll have a controller working in the tower who can focus on the flight and not think about how he’s going to pay for Christmas or rent or buy food or anything like that.”
National air traffic controllers National Air assn. President Nick Daniels, who heads the union representing air traffic controllers, urged Congress in a statement Friday to pass the Stowgap.
Democrats say they will not vote to continue federal funding until Republicans agree to negotiate a tax compromise soon.
“It’s unreasonable to expect hard-working, hard-working motor vehicle regulators across the country and their families to bear the brunt of the policy disagreements in Congress,” Daniels said. “We have always said that Natca supports any measure that can end this closure and pay our members.”
Staff writer Rong-Gong Lin II contributed to this report.
