Flight Delays surge as U.S. air traffic controller shortage deepens

Delays on U.S. flights are mounting, and passengers are feeling the impact, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that staffing shortfalls in air traffic control are contributing significantly to the problem. The situation is especially acute at major hubs including Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta and Newark.

More than 5,800 flights were delayed on Sunday alone, according to aviation-tracker FlightAware. Those delays include a strong slowdown at two of the largest U.S. carriers: more than 20% of flights by American Airlines and Southwest Airlines were reported as delayed.

At the same time, the U.S. government is in its 19th day of a federal funding lapse. Meanwhile, roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers are working without pay. The FAA further states it is still about 3,500 controllers short of its target staffing levels, even before the shutdown began.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said earlier this month that staffing issues accounted for 53% of flight delays during the shutdown, compared with about 5% under normal conditions.  The staffing gap has also revived memories of the 2019 shutdown, during which controller absences and delayed pay triggered capacity reductions at major airports.

The FAA says it is monitoring staffing triggers and may slow or hold flights when controllers are absent. The agency warned that Las Vegas and Phoenix are now facing similar pressures.

Airlines, unions and travellers have called on lawmakers to resolve the shutdown quickly to restore confidence in U.S. aviation operations.

Read more on Over 100,000 stranded as Air Canada flight attendants extend strike