The Orlando airport was nearly closed due to staff shortages during the United States government shutdown, but last-minute air traffic management averted the closure. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) planned to close Orlando for the landing.
According to reports, airports in Orlando, Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington DC have seen multiple flight delays due to staff shortages since the government shutdown on October 1 due to Republican-Democratic disputes over federal funding and health insurance subsidies.
The FAA said in a statement that delays at those airports averaged more than two hours at Orlando, 90 minutes at Washington National Airport and 21 minutes at Dallas.
New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport suspended departures for about 90 minutes after 8:00 p.m. local time due to staff shortages.
As of Thursday, Oct. 30, nearly 6,000 flights were delayed and 1,100 canceled across the country, according to FlightAware. About 20 percent of flights were affected at United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines, FlightAware said.
More than 13,000 air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown. Hundreds even took second jobs to survive the shutdown.
National Air Traffic Controller Association President Nick Daniels said that number will grow as more air traffic controllers look for ways to pay their bills.
“It’s going to be 1,000 soon,” Daniels said, urging the government to end the gridlock. “We want the shutdown to end today… In whatever way it’s done, the American people deserve it.”
‘US shutdown may snarl holiday travel’: Vance
Vice President JD Vance said an extended government shutdown would likely snarl travel during the busy holiday season as the administration seeks to increase pressure on Democrats over the funding impasse. He made the announcement after a meeting with aviation industry leaders at the White House.
Attendees included the CEO of United Airlines Holdings Inc. Scott Kirby, CEO of American Airlines Group Inc. Robert Isom, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and former Republican New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who is now CEO of the industry trade group Airlines for America.
Vance told reporters that “it could be a disaster” if the shutdown extends into the Thanksgiving travel season.
