US Government Shutdown Impacts Air Travel: Air Traffic Controller Shortages Lead to Delays
Major US airports including Denver, Newark, and Burbank have been hit by significant flight delays this week. The cause? Severe air traffic controller shortages. As the government shutdown enters its second week, the impact on air travel is becoming increasingly evident.
At Hollywood Burbank Airport, flights were delayed until 1 a.m., with average delays of 2.5 hours. This occurred while no controllers were on duty Monday evening, according to California Governor Gavin Newsom.
The Federal Aviation Administration is bracing for a particularly busy travel weekend. Nearly 53,000 flights are forecasted for Thursday, October 10, and 52,000 flights for Friday, October 11. This surge in air travel coincides with the Columbus Day holiday weekend.
The U.S. Travel Association has issued a warning about the economic impact of the shutdown. It’s estimated to be costing America’s travel economy $1 billion every week. Furthermore, a staggering 60% of Americans have stated they would cancel or avoid air travel during a shutdown.
Source: CBS News