Government shutdown is increasing pressure on air traffic controllers and disrupting flights

The ongoing government shutdown is disrupting flights at times and putting pressure on air traffic controllers who are working without pay.

Flights were delayed on Thursday new york‘S LaGuardia Airport, new JerseyNewark Airport and Washington’s Reagan National Airport due to air traffic controller shortages. The number of flight delays for any reason nationwide rose to 6,158 on Thursday, up from nearly 4,000 the week before, according to FlightAware.com.

many Federal Aviation Administration The facilities are so short of controllers that just a few absences can cause disruptions, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said more air traffic controllers are calling in sick since the shutdown began. At the beginning of the shutdown, there were many disruptions at airports across the country, but for the past few weeks, there have not been as many problems.

Duffy plans to hold a press conference Friday at the Philadelphia airport with Nick Daniels, the head of the air traffic controllers union, to highlight the additional strain the shutdown is placing on controllers. Already, some controllers have taken second jobs to earn some cash to help pay their bills while the shutdown continues.

Daniels said in a message to union members Friday that controllers should focus on keeping flights safe — not worrying about how they’ll pay their bills. He said it’s not fair that controllers are facing impossible choices about whether to pay for rent or child care or groceries. The union and some airports have offered to help connect controllers with food banks or other assistance to help cope with the shutdown.

Daniels said, “You are shouldering the burden of the national airspace system and now doing it without pay. It is not acceptable and it is not sustainable. No American employee should ever be put in this position.”

Duffy has said that air traffic controllers who misuse their sick time during the shutdown could be fired.

Republicans and Democrats have been unable to reach an agreement to end the shutdown that began Oct. 1. Airlines and major unions across the industry have urged Congress to reach an agreement to end the shutdown.

“Our aviation system has been operating safely throughout the shutdown, but it is placing incredible and unnecessary stress on the system and our air traffic controllers, flight crews and many other aviation professionals,” said Representative Sam Graves, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Missouri Republicans urged Democrats to support the GOP bill to fund the government.