Flight delays persist at major US airports as government shutdown continues
Air flights have been continuously delayed at major US airports amid the ongoing shutdown of the United States’ government.
Passengers at major US airports could feel the impact of staffing issues on Friday, with more than 6,400 flights being delayed and 470 canceled.
Since Monday, 22,000 flights have been delayed, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.
The delays have been linked to an uptick in workers calling out sick, leading to a staff shortage.
CBS News senior transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave reported that currently, the situation at US airports looks “a little messy.”
“On top of that, you have uncertainty that’s been injected into basically everyone’s travels because of the staffing situation that we’re seeing pop up sporadically throughout the air traffic control system,” Van Cleave said.
“It doesn’t look like it’s a coordinated or targeted sick out per se, but you’re seeing more sick calls than you would normally see,” Van Cleave said.
“And some of those don’t result in a whole lot of disruption, and we’ve seen others that have been pretty disruptive,” he added.
Meanwhile, the government shutdown reached its 10th day on Friday.
During the government’s shutdown, non-essential operations, agency activities and services cease to work. The non-essential workers are put on furlough.
Meanwhile, the federal government retains the essential employees in departments that protect human life or property.
Air traffic controllers are deemed essential by the government, requiring them to keep working during the shutdown without immediate pay.
However, the shortage of air traffic controllers is currently at 53 percent, ten times the normal rate, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.
Duffy warned air traffic controllers this week that those who violate agency sick leave policies will face repercussions.
The workers’ union representing them said it does not approve of the intentional act of feigning or exaggerating sickness for personal gain.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association announced on its website that it does not condone its members malingering, warning that such action would compromise the safety of the nation’s airspace.
The union also urged its members to continue showing up on the job, despite not being paid by the government due to the shutdown.
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