The United States faces a serious problem Crisis in air transport because of Driver shortage caused by Extended federal government shutdownwhich on Sunday turned 40 and has already led to more than 100 cancellations 2200 tripsAccording to FlightAware data.
Staff shortages are affecting the busiest airports, causing long delays and putting operations at risk during the peak travel season.
the Federal Aviation Administration The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported Sunday that a total of 2,225 flights were canceled and more than 7,500 were delayed in the past 24 hours.
Includes the most affected stations Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson, Chicago O’Hare, LaGuardia, NewarkAnd other main points in the country’s air network. Airlines such as Delta, American Airlines, SkyWest and Republic They reported major disruptions to their operations.
Minister of Transport, Sean DuffyHe warned of the extent of the problem and warned that the situation may worsen if the “lockdown” continues, especially with the holiday approaching. Thanksgiving Day.
“Air traffic will be greatly reduced as everyone tries to travel to see their families.Duffy declared in an interview with Fox News Sunday. He pointed out that many towers and radar centers operate with less than half the necessary number of employees and that the rate of worker abandonment is constantly increasing.
During Friday and Saturday, when the controlled reduction of air traffic was already implemented, the limits were exceeded. Thousands of flights canceled daily. Thousands more cancellations were already expected on Sunday night, an unusually high number according to industry specialists.
The FAA emphasized that these reductions, derived from the lack of controllers, are already affecting aviation 4% of flights at 40 stationsHe warned that this percentage could reach 10% if Congress fails to lift the ban on the federal budget.
The organization stated that if the staff crisis worsens, it will evaluate a raise Reducing operations to 20% Before the end of the week.
“The rate of observer departures is increasing… We expect everything to get worse if the situation is not lifted before Tuesday,” Duffy said.
The majority of those affected are users of large airports in the northeast and center of the country. More than fifteen air traffic control centers reported severe staffing shortages, with some critical cases New York, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Nashville, and Dallas. At these points, delays exceeding two hours and great uncertainty among passengers were recorded.
Air traffic controllers, although considered essential workers, do not receive salaries while activities are closed. Dissatisfaction led to the dismissal of some 2000 employeeswho claimed for medical, stress or family reasons. Meanwhile, hundreds of agents endure long hours and are forced to work overtime to maintain minimal services.
Airlines said they would notify passengers if their flights were suspended, but recommended travelers constantly check apps and tracking pages to avoid arriving at airports before receiving confirmations.
he Ministry of Transportation He confirmed that users will be able to claim a refund for canceled tickets, although other additional expenses such as accommodation or meals are not guaranteed.
Industry spokesmen warned that even if Congress reaches an agreement to reopen the government, a return to normal life could take several days.
“It will take some time to fully restore order,” explained Michael Johnson, president of Ensemble Travel.
Meanwhile, the Senate is holding special sessions to negotiate the budget agreement and prevent the situation from further crippling domestic travel, especially on the eve of the long Thanksgiving weekend, when an influx of millions of dollars in passengers is expected.
(With information from EFE and Associated Press)
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