In brief
Flight delays are extending up to three hours across U.S. airports amid a prolonged government shutdown, with major hubs such as Newark and George Bush Intercontinental Airport affected. With nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers working without pay, the FAA warns that conditions may worsen. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasizes the importance of safety as disruptions continue, urging travelers to check their flight statuses before heading to the airport.
Flight delays continued at U.S. airports Sunday amid air traffic controller shortages as the government shutdown entered its second month, with Newark airport in New Jersey experiencing delays of two to three hours.
New York City's Emergency Management office reported on social media that delays at Newark often affect other regional airports.
Travelers flying to, from, or through New York should anticipate schedule changes, gate holds, and missed connections. A social media post stated, Anyone flying today should check flight status before heading to the airport and expect longer waits.
Airports such as George Bush Intercontinental in Houston, Dallas Fort Worth International, and Chicago O'Hare also reported dozens of delays and some cancellations, alongside major airports in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Denver, and Miami, according to FlightAware.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has been warning that travelers will face more flight disruptions as air traffic controllers continue working without pay.
Duffy stated on CBS’S Face the Nation, We work overtime to ensure the system is safe. You’ll see delays, we’ll have flights canceled to secure safety.
Earlier in October, Duffy had indicated that controllers who called in sick instead of working without pay risked termination. He mentioned, I’m not going to fire air traffic controllers who make decisions to feed their families. The FAA confirmed that nearly 13,000 controllers have been working without compensation for weeks.
Despite some isolated staffing problems, data indicated that most major U.S. airports maintained strong on-time performance for October, though the FAA was already grappling with a pre-existing shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers.
