Airlines tell passengers to prepare for delays

A group representing the nation’s largest airlines said Friday that travelers should prepare for possible disruptions to flight operations this weekend as the government shutdown continues.

This week, a shortage of air traffic controllers caused flight delays at some U.S. airports, including Burbank, California, and Nashville, Tennessee.

“While it’s safe to fly, the lack of controllers is straining the system, spacing out flights, and slowing everything down. In some cases, flights may be delayed or canceled,” Airlines for America said. delta airlines, united airlines, american airlines And others.

Bad weather could also make big weekend travel difficult. The National Weather Service issued a flood watch Friday for parts of New York, Long Island, Connecticut and New Jersey due to expected storms.

During the federal government shutdown, “essential” workers such as air traffic controllers and TSA agents will go without pay, while many other employees will be furloughed.

The more than month-long shutdown that began in late 2018 ended hours after a shortage of air traffic controllers disrupted air travel in the New York area.

Air traffic controller absenteeism has increased this week as the current shutdown extends into its second week, Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Brian Bedford reiterated to officials Friday.

“Air traffic controllers still need to come to work and perform their critical missions. The safety and efficiency of our nation’s airspace depends on them,” he said in a memo to employees, seen by CNBC.

Delta CEO Ed Bastian told CNBC earlier this week that the grounding has so far seen “no impact” on the airline’s operations. But that could change if it continues for about another 10 days, he said.

Nearly 3,700 U.S. flights were delayed on Friday, according to aviation tracking site FlightAware, which is lower than the daily average of about 4,100 flights for U.S. airlines so far this year.