Air traffic controller absences persisted in disrupting travel, and a federal government shutdown stretched to its 26th day by Sunday, as more than 8,000 flights were delayed throughout the U.S.
Transportation Secretary of the United States, Sean Duffy, reported that the Federal Aviation Administration suffered air traffic control staffing problems in 22 locations on Saturday and that further shortages would result in more flight delays and cancellations in the coming days.
FlightAware, a flight-tracking site, reported over 8,000 flight delays in the US by 11 p.m. ET (0400 GMT on Monday) on Sunday, compared to approximately 5,300 on Saturday.
Delays have been average and even high since the government shutdown started on October 1.
FlightAware indicates that Southwest Airlines postponed 45 percent of its flights, or 2,000 flights, on Sunday, and American Airlines had almost 1,200 of its flights postponed, or a third of its flights, on Sunday.
United Airlines delayed 24 percent, or 739 flights, and Delta Air Lines delayed 610 flights, or 17 percent.
Around 13,000 air traffic controllers and approximately 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers have to work despite not receiving payment during the shutdown.
The rise in air travel delays and cancellations is under scrutiny as observers seek signs that the shutdown is causing life to be more difficult for Americans.
However, that might pressure the lawmakers to resolve the budget deadlock, which caused the shutdown.
The FAA reported on Saturday that 22 “triggers” that were shortages of air traffic controllers, Duffy told the Fox News “Sunday Morning Futures” program.
He claimed that the figure was “one of the highest that we’ve seen in the system” since October 1.
Duffy added, “That’s a sign that the controllers are wearing thin.”
The FAA reported that the ground delay programs were issued due to the shortage of staff on Sunday at the O’Hare Airport in Chicago, Washington’s Reagan National Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport.
There had been an earlier ground stop at Los Angeles International Airport, which was withdrawn.
The Trump administration has also given warnings that the disruption of flights will rise since controllers will miss their first full pay on Tuesday.
Two weeks ago, air traffic controllers received a paycheck at 90 percent of their usual pay. Their first pay period would have been just on Tuesday, as they solely worked in October.
Duffy stated that the controllers who are now looking at alternatives to make a living are those who are faced with the possibility of losing a federal paycheck.
He further added, “They’re taking second jobs, they’re out there looking.”
By the time of the shutdown, the FAA was approximately 3,500 air traffic controllers behind target staffing levels, and most were already working mandatory overtime and six-day workweeks before the shutdown.
During a 35-day closure in 2019, absences by controllers and TSA officers increased as employees and workers missed paychecks, increasing wait times at certain checkpoints at the airports. Meanwhile, the officials had to reduce air travel in Washington and New York.
Duffy and other Republicans have lamented that Democrats have opposed a “clean” short-term funding bill and one that bears no strings.
President Donald Trump and Republicans have been blamed by democrats for not negotiating on health care subsidies that lapse at the year’s end.
