Since the start of the shutdown, thousands of flights have been cancelled or delayed due to an emerging workers shortage. About 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are being asked to continue reporting to work without pay, many of whom are misusing sick leave to refuse unpaid work despite being deemed essential.
At least 35 air traffic control points in the U.S. are experiencing staffing shortfalls, including facilities in Austin, Phoenix, New York, Newark, Nashville, Washington, Denver, and Dallas. The most affected control sites are Philadelphia TRACON Area C, which manages aircraft sequencing and separation for Philadelphia and Newark airports, Central Florida TRACON, responsible for flights to and from Orlando airport, and Las Vegas TRACON. Additionally, insufficient staffing levels were reported at New York Air Route Traffic Control Centers (ARTCC) Areas A and C, which handle enroute air traffic over parts of Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, Dallas Fort Worth’s TRACON, and control towers responsible for traffic in and out of San Francisco International Airport and Nashville International Airport. Between 20% and 40% of air traffic controllers have been absent daily at the 30 busiest U.S. airports since the shutdown began at the start of October.
FAA’s Flight Capacity Reduction Measures
On November 7, staff shortages led the FAA to introduce flight capacity reduction measures at 40 major U.S. airports, cutting thousands of daily scheduled flights. Initial cuts of 4% were implemented on November 7 and are expected to increase by one percentage point with each additional day of the shutdown. The measures concern only domestic flights scheduled between 6:00 and 22:00 local time at airports critical for passenger and air freight operations, including, but not limited to, Chicago O’Hare International, Dallas-Fort Worth International, Denver International, George Bush Houston Intercontinental, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Los Angeles International, Miami International, New York LaGuardia, New York John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, Philadelphia International, Phoenix Sky Harbor International, Ronald Reagan Washington National, San Diego International, San Francisco International, Seattle-Tacoma International, and Washington Dulles International airports. On November 9, 10,000 flight delays and 2,700 cancellations were reported across U.S. airports due to the mandate, with Delta Air Lines reporting 52% of scheduled flights as canceled or delayed.
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