Why a US government shutdown is causing fresh flight delays

The FAA confirmed that the delays were linked to staffing shortages rather than weather or runway issues.

Flights into some of the busiest US airports were hit with long delays on Monday as the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grappled with a shortage of air traffic controllers. Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey reported nearly hour-long incoming delays during the afternoon, while Denver International Airport saw arriving flights held back by about 40 minutes, the New York Times reported.

By evening, the disruption spread west. Hollywood Burbank Airport near Los Angeles reported average delays of two and a half hours for incoming flights. With the airport’s tower unmanned, responsibility for incoming traffic shifted to the Southern California Terminal Radar Approach Control in San Diego, one of the busiest facilities in the world.

Passengers caught by surprise

The situation came as a shock to many travellers. Kurt Duffens, a 69-year-old passenger arriving in Burbank from Portland, Oregon, said he only realized during his flight that the airport’s control tower had no staff. “I wouldn’t have flown,” he said, adding that he would have chosen Los Angeles International Airport if he had known earlier.

FAA steps in with emergency measures

The FAA confirmed that the delays were linked to staffing shortages rather than weather or runway issues. To manage traffic, it used a “ground delay program,” which holds planes at their departure airports until capacity is available at their destinations. This tool is commonly used during bad weather, but officials are now deploying it due to insufficient personnel.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy earlier in the day acknowledged the risks, warning that the shutdown could have a direct impact on flight safety and schedules. “If we think there’s issues in the airspace, we will shut it down,” he said. “We will close it down. We will delay.”

Shutdown’s impact on controllers

Air traffic controllers are classified as essential workers, meaning they must continue working through the shutdown. However, they will not receive pay until the standoff in Washington ends. In the past, prolonged shutdowns have pushed controllers to call in sick at high rates, worsening delays and forcing lawmakers to act.

During the 2019 shutdown, for example, sick leave at key facilities contributed to widespread disruptions across the US Officials said Monday they had already noticed a “slight tick-up” in sick calls since this latest shutdown began last week.

Wider consequences for air service

The strain is not limited to big-city airports. Duffy also warned that a federal program subsidizing flights to rural areas could run out of funding by Sunday if the shutdown continues. That program, which supports small-town access to commercial aviation, could be suspended, leaving communities with limited or no air links.

For now, the FAA is juggling its resources to keep airspace safe and open. But with long lines at airports and delays mounting, the political gridlock in Washington is increasingly being felt in the skies.