The air traffic control tower at Hollywood Burbank Airport stands on October 6, 2025 in Burbank, California.
Tama Mario | Getty Images
Amid growing concerns about the government shutdown’s impact on U.S. aviation, the Federal Aviation Administration warned Wednesday that more flights could be delayed due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.
About 10,000 flights were delayed on Monday and Tuesday, but disruptions on Wednesday dropped to just over 1,900 flights. Already this week, air traffic control personnel were in short supply, with the FAA delaying or halting arrivals to Burbank, California, and Nashville, Tennessee, among others.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Monday that the FAA is seeing a “slight increase” in sick calls to air traffic controllers.
The shortage of air traffic controllers has long worried airline executives, but the closures have heightened concerns about the strain on air traffic controllers.
“About 11,000 fully certified air traffic controllers remain on the job, many working 10-hour shifts, six days a week, demonstrating extraordinary dedication to getting millions of passengers safely to their destinations, all without pay during this shutdown,” the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, the air traffic controllers’ union, said in a statement.
The FAA had warned early Wednesday that it could trigger staffing at Newark Liberty International Airport, but that warning was lifted by the afternoon. Newark wasn’t inundated with flight delays.
The government shutdown was extended into an eighth day Wednesday after the Senate again failed to pass a funding bill.
“Essential” workers such as air traffic controllers and TSA officers have continued to work without pay during the shutdown, while many other employees have been furloughed.
The more than month-long shutdown that began in late 2018 ended early next year, hours after a shortage of air traffic controllers disrupted air travel in New York.
