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Travelers across the United States are preparing for growing delays as airport staffing shortages further deteriorate during the current federal government shutdown, now reaching its seventh day.

Growing Concerns Over Aviation System

Labor leaders for flight controllers and security screeners have warned that the situation is likely to deteriorate, with staffing challenges reported at multiple key airports including facilities in Nashville, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia.

"The risk of wider impacts to the American air travel network is growing by the day," stated travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt.

He voiced serious worry that if the shutdown continues, it could possibly interfere with millions of Americans' Thanksgiving travel plans in November.

Flight Delays and Operational Challenges

Workforce gaps, including an elevated number of workers taking sick leave, impacted major airports around Denver, Los Angeles and New York on Monday, resulting in delays for over 6,000 flights nationwide.

• Burbank airport's flight control was briefly shut down and operations were handled by a different location
• Nashville airport reported delays of approximately two hours due to workforce challenges
• O'Hare Airport in Chicago showed typical postponements of nearly three-quarters of an hour
• Dallas-Fort Worth experienced postponements recorded at 30 minutes

Industry Response and Labor Stance

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association stressed that it does not support any coordinated activities that could negatively affect the National Airspace System.

The union stated that flight controllers take their responsibility to ensure passenger security very seriously and participating in any work stoppage could result in removal from federal service.

Official Viewpoint

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that the country's air traffic control system is being harmed from the continuing federal closure.

"They aren't only thinking about the flight paths," he remarked regarding flight controllers who are not receiving salaries. "They're concerned about, 'Am I going to get a paycheck'?"

The official observed that many controllers depend on regular income and are unable to manage prolonged durations without payment.

Wider Consequences

Based on emergency preparations, approximately a quarter of the employees, or more than 11,000 FAA employees, were furloughed when the shutdown began last week.

However, 13,000 air traffic controllers continue working, with recruitment and instruction also ongoing.

Union president Nick Daniels indicated that the closure has emphasized existing challenges faced by flight controllers, including workforce gaps and aging technology.

He explained that the situation is particularly grave at regional facilities where reduced personnel creates additional challenges.

Regardless of the widespread delays, flight data indicated that roughly ninety-two percent of departures from American airports departed as scheduled as of Tuesday afternoon.

The aviation regulator had not issued a "workforce threshold" that would decrease the flight volume in and out of airports, suggesting that activities were proceeding despite the difficulties.