Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy predicted Tuesday that there could be chaos in the skies next week if the government shutdown drags on and air traffic controllers miss a second paycheck.
Numerous delays have already plagued airports across the nation, lasting hours at times. Flight operations have been affected as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) temporarily slows down or halts air traffic due to short staffing. Last weekend saw significant disruptions, particularly at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Duffy, along with the head of the air traffic controllers union, has sounded alarms that the situation could deteriorate, warning that financial pressures on controllers forced to work without pay might result in even more significant delays and potential flight cancellations. The FAA has already reported issues as controllers missed their first paycheck on October 28.
Many of the controllers said ‘A lot of us can navigate missing one paycheck. Not everybody, but a lot of us can. None of us can manage missing two paychecks,’ stated Duffy. He conveyed that without immediate action from Congress, severe disruptions could be on the horizon.
Although most flight disruptions have been isolated so far, the risk of widespread delays persists, prompting increased pressure on lawmakers to act swiftly to end the shutdown. There are fears among the travel industry that as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, the consequences of a protracted shutdown could impact millions of travelers and lead to severe economic ramifications.
The U.S. Travel Association has already indicated that previous delays due to the shutdown have cost the economy over $4 billion, voicing that if delays continue into the peak holiday travel period, the impact would be significant across the industry and local communities.
As of midday Tuesday, the overall number of flight delays was reported lower than typical, although specific issues persisted due to staffing shortages and weather conditions affecting operations in major airports, including Phoenix.
