With the federal government shutdown stretching into its record-setting 36th day, the nation’s aviation system is showing increasing signs of stress. Officials have warned of possible coming airspace closures while Airlines for America (A4A) President and CEO Chris Sununu said Tuesday that more than 3.4 million passengers have been affected by flight delays and cancellations tied to staffing shortages at the FAA and TSA.
“It is simply unacceptable that our air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and CBP officers are working without pay,” Sununu said in a statement.
Longest Shutdown in U.S. History Hits Aviation Hard
The airline trade group estimates 31 million passengers will fly over Thanksgiving, marking one of the busiest travel periods on record. U.S. carriers have added roughly 45,000 seats per day to meet demand, but Sununu cautioned that without congressional action to reopen the government, “massive gridlock” could follow.
Controllers have increasingly been forced to take on additional work during their off-hours to help make ends meet, which is contributing to the steady uptick in absences.
“I work with people that are working a second job at night and are just calling in sick in the morning when they can’t go to the job that doesn’t pay them because they’re too tired,” a controller told NPR. “You know, I’m going to join that guy here next week if things don’t pan out.”
Another controller described the situation as a “tipping point” to NPR.
“I think we’re reaching a tipping point,” said the controller. “This is kind of about the point in the last shutdown where people just started getting fed up with it.”
Duffy Praises Controllers, Warns of Growing Risk
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told reporters Tuesday that FAA personnel continue to perform “far better than in past shutdowns,” but warned that conditions are deteriorating as controllers miss a second paycheck.
“Every day, these hardworking Americans have bills they have to pay,” Duffy said. “They’re being forced to make decisions—do they go to work as an air traffic controller, or do they find a different job to get resources, money, to food on their table, to put gas in their car?”
Duffy said the agency has already been forced to consolidate positions at some facilities as more controllers call out.
“You do have a controller who’s certified to maybe work two positions, but traditionally they only work one,” he said. “But they have to work those two positions because their colleagues have called in sick or they’re waiting tables or they’re driving Uber.”
Controllers Keep System Running Amid Pay Lapse
The secretary said that despite worsening conditions, the system remains safe—for now.
“We [would] delay flights, tell airlines to cancel flights if we don’t have enough controllers to effectively and safely manage our skies,” Duffy said.
Duffy added that while the FAA continues to manage the crisis, the shutdown has slowed efforts to address the agency’s long-term staffing shortage.
“I’ve worked really hard to bring in more air traffic controllers into our academy, more into our training system in our towers and centers,” he said. “This does not help us resolve that problem. This makes the problem only worse.”
Potential for Airspace Closures
Speaking about the potential impact on holiday travel, Duffy said the longer the funding impasse continues, “the problem is only going to get worse, not better.” Controllers are expected to receive pay stubs showing zero pay this week, which he said could push the system to a breaking point.
“If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos, you will see mass flight delays, you’ll see mass cancellations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it,” he said.
HIs statement echoed similar statements during another press conference on Monday, when he said entire airspaces could be shut down if required for safety.
Industry Calls for Immediate Action
A4A and aviation leaders continue to urge Congress to pass a clean resolution that pays essential personnel while negotiations continue.
“We cannot live shutdown to shutdown,” Sununu said. “Keeping America open should be a patriotic duty, not a partisan divide on Capitol Hill.”
This should be easy. First, get the politics out of the AT System. Make AT Controllers and their supervisors “Essential Employees,” and find a way to way them during Government shutdowns.
Stop talking about firing controllers. Remember how that worked when Reagan did it? Again, get the politics out of ATC.
And shouldn’t the FAA Administrator the face of the FAA. I dare say Mr Bedford know a whole lot more about aviation that SoT.