Travelers face airline delays amid the ongoing federal crisis in the United States government shutdown,
The government shut down on October 1 after lawmakers failed to pass a bill to fund the federal government for the upcoming fiscal year. The shutdown has already contributed to Airline delays across the country And this has had a serious impact on the US travel economy.
Since the shutdown began, many air traffic controllers have not been at work, contributing to massive delays for Americans.
There are delays due to lack of air traffic controllers
According to the Department of Transportation (DOT), air traffic controllers are considered essential government employees and about 13,000 people had to continue working without pay during the shutdown. contingency plan,
Nearly 10,000 flights were delayed between Monday and Tuesday this week. An additional 3,000 flights were delayed due to inclement weather on Wednesday may have contributed To some of them.
Airports in and around major cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville and the District of Columbia have experienced delays.
Airports were already struggling with staff shortages and the government shutdown has worsened the problem. As of May 7, only two 313 air traffic control facilities Staffing goals set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US were met.
Transport Section. Duffy answers
On Wednesday, Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said delays were 10 times more likely due to a shortage of air traffic control staff.
“Historically, our towers have had about a 5 percent delay due to staffing issues,” Duffy Said Wednesday on Fox News’ “The Will Cain Show.” “In the last few days, it’s been 53 percent.”
On Thursday, Duffy told Fox Business that he Air traffic controllers can be fired Those who did not come to work.
“If some people on our staff are not dedicated, we will let them go,” he said.
Airline leaders and travel safety analysts have warned that if the shutdown continues, the system could become even worse.
Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, said, “Air traffic controllers don’t start shutdowns, and we don’t end shutdowns. Politicians start shutdowns, and they have the ability to end shutdowns.” cnn,
One-week shutdown costs US travel economy $1 billion
according to US Travel AssociationThe US travel economy has already lost $1 billion in just one week of government shutdown. It is estimated that the travel economy will continue to be impacted at the same rate as the shutdown continues.
“This shutdown is doing real, irreversible damage,” said Geoff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association.
The Hill contributed to this report.
