Air Travel Chaos Intensifies as Air Traffic Controllers Prepare for First Full Week Without Pay
As the partial government shutdown entered its 30th day, air travel disruptions continued to plague airports across the US. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported staffing-related delays averaging around 20 minutes at Dallas's airport on Monday afternoon, while Austin's airport was hit with delays of over 40 minutes after a temporary ground stop was issued.
The situation is only expected to worsen as air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for nearly three weeks, prepare to face their first full week without income. With many controllers still putting in mandatory overtime six days a week, the lack of financial compensation is starting to take its toll.
According to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the situation is becoming increasingly dire, with more controllers calling in sick due to financial worries. "And that's a sign that the controllers are wearing thin," he warned on Fox News last weekend.
As controllers scramble to make ends meet, flight disruptions will likely continue to affect travelers nationwide. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has announced plans for its members to gather at major airports across the US, including New York City and Atlanta, on Tuesday to distribute leaflets detailing the impact of the shutdown on the aviation system and its workers.
On Sunday, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) saw a brief ground stop lasting over two hours, with planes held at their originating airports until it was lifted. While flights resumed relatively smoothly after 4:15 pm local time, this incident highlights the growing strain on air traffic control systems.
According to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, only around 72% of scheduled flights at LAX were able to take off within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure times. As the shutdown drags on, it remains unclear how long these disruptions will persist.
As the partial government shutdown entered its 30th day, air travel disruptions continued to plague airports across the US. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported staffing-related delays averaging around 20 minutes at Dallas's airport on Monday afternoon, while Austin's airport was hit with delays of over 40 minutes after a temporary ground stop was issued.
The situation is only expected to worsen as air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for nearly three weeks, prepare to face their first full week without income. With many controllers still putting in mandatory overtime six days a week, the lack of financial compensation is starting to take its toll.
According to US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, the situation is becoming increasingly dire, with more controllers calling in sick due to financial worries. "And that's a sign that the controllers are wearing thin," he warned on Fox News last weekend.
As controllers scramble to make ends meet, flight disruptions will likely continue to affect travelers nationwide. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has announced plans for its members to gather at major airports across the US, including New York City and Atlanta, on Tuesday to distribute leaflets detailing the impact of the shutdown on the aviation system and its workers.
On Sunday, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) saw a brief ground stop lasting over two hours, with planes held at their originating airports until it was lifted. While flights resumed relatively smoothly after 4:15 pm local time, this incident highlights the growing strain on air traffic control systems.
According to Cirium, an aviation analytics firm, only around 72% of scheduled flights at LAX were able to take off within 15 minutes of their scheduled departure times. As the shutdown drags on, it remains unclear how long these disruptions will persist.
like is there even a plan for when the air traffic controllers finally get paid? The whole situation just feels so stressful and disorganized... I mean what's the point of having an airport if flights are still getting delayed by 20+ minutes? It's all just going to add up and cost the economy, right? 
And yeah, I can totally see how controllers getting sick because they're worried about their finances is a sign that things are seriously bad. The union should be doing more to organize these strikes or whatever it is they're planning...
... SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE SOON!!!
air travel in the us is literally falling apart with all these controllers not getting paid 
i feel for them but like what are they gonna do? 
anyone else notice that lax flights were only 72% on time last sunday?! 
it's like, what's going to happen when they're actually out of pay for real? 
The FAA's staffing-related delays are a perfect example of how a lack of financial stability can have far-reaching consequences on critical infrastructure like air traffic control. With controllers struggling to make ends meet, it's no surprise that we're seeing widespread flight disruptions and delays across the country. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association's efforts to raise awareness about the impact of the shutdown are well-intentioned, but ultimately, a more permanent solution is needed - perhaps a negotiated settlement or a temporary pay increase. Until then, travelers can expect continued chaos at our airports 
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and now we're gonna have a full week without them at airports? 
It's like they're playing some kinda sick game, putting lives on hold for their own financial gain 
I'm just hoping this situation doesn't blow up and cause a major disaster 
. I get that there are budget constraints and whatnot, but come on... how do we expect things to run smoothly when people can't even afford to breathe? 
. 72% of flights delayed? thats crazy talk!! 
according to cirium, the number has been dropping since last week but im guessing were still gonna see some major disruptions this week as controllers try to figure things out without pay 
. These people are already working under so much pressure and stress, and adding financial worries to the mix is just cruel 
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. And what about the families of these controllers? They're the ones who will be affected too 
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. I feel so sorry for the travelers who are stuck in limbo, waiting for their flights to take off 
. The FAA needs to step in and figure out a solution that works for everyone involved 
.