PHOENIX – Dozens of flight delays were reported Friday at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport as staffing issues continue hampering air travel during the federal government shutdown.
As of around 12:30 p.m., the Sky Harbor website showed delays of varying lengths for over 85 departures throughout the day.
At the same time, flight-tracking website FlightAware was showing a total of over 190 delays for departures and arrivals at the Phoenix hub.
On Thursday, multiple ground stops were issued at Sky Harbor due to storms, but the weather didn’t appear to be an issue in Phoenix as flight delays piled up on Friday morning.
Shutdown causing flight delays at airports across country
Sky Harbor officials referred questions about Friday’s flight delays to the Federal Aviation Administration. An email from KTAR News 92.3 FM to the FAA prompted a reply that said the agency is not responding to routine media inquiries due to a lack of funding during the government shutdown, which started on Oct. 1.
The FAA previously confirmed shutdown-related staffing shortage issues at airports across the country.
Air traffic controllers are considered essential government employees, so they are required to work without pay during the shutdown. However, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said this week there has been an uptick in controllers calling out sick.
The FAA must reduce flight traffic for safety reasons if there aren’t enough controllers, potentially leading to delays and cancellations.
A union leader recently told The Associated Press that the situation is expected to worsen after essential airport workers don’t get paid on next week’s regularly scheduled payday.
Furthermore, a travel industry analyst said he’s worried the shutdown will disrupt Thanksgiving flight plans if it isn’t resolved.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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