Control tower staffing shortages at the Hollywood Burbank Airport Monday led to 56 flight delays and 12 cancellations. Now, seven days into the federal government shutdown, a shortage of air-traffic controllers, who will not get paid until the shutdown ends, are causing similar problems at airports in other major U.S. cities.
Yesterday, the Federal Aviation Administration warned travelers flying into and out of Burbank Airport to expect delays as the facility’s control tower went completely dark for nearly six hours.
“Burbank Airport has ZERO air traffic controllers from 4:15pm to 10pm today because of YOUR government shutdown,” Gov. Gavin Newsom wrote on social media, blaming President Donald Trump and his administration for the staffing issues.
While some scheduled flights were able to land and take off during those hours, air traffic operations were being handled by crews more than 130 miles away in San Diego.
Experts warn that the problem will likely get worse as air-traffic controllers and Transportation and Safety Administration employees call out sick because they’re not getting paid.
“It will happen at other airports as the shutdown continues,” Peter Greenberg, a travel expert, told KTLA. “Remember, all these essential federal workers, whether it’s air-traffic controllers, TSA agents, Customs and Border Protection, they’re being asked to work, but they are not being paid.”
By Tuesday evening, airports in Las Vegas, Houston, Dallas, Boston, Atlanta, Nashville and Newark were all reporting staffing issues in their control towers, forcing the FAA to reduce the number of takeoffs and landings to maintain safety.
That reduction leads to more flight delays and cancellations.
At a press conference, Nick Daniels, president of the National Air-Traffic Controllers Association, appeared frustrated.
“We do not have time to waste on the unnecessary distractions created by this shutdown,” he said. “So, our message is clear: end the shutdown.”
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy insisted that staffing shortages are not putting passengers’ safety at risk.
“Is our airspace unsafe? No,” he said. “If we think there’s issues in the airspace, we will shut it down.”
Some passengers reported that their pilots were also reassuring air travelers that they were not in any danger.
“The pilot came out and said, ‘Hey, we’re all safe. I’ll make sure to get us all there safely. I want to get there safely. So, rest assured, you’ll all be fine,’” a Burbank Airport passenger told KTLA.
While the estimated 750,000 furloughed federal employees are expected to receive back pay after the government reopens, comments made by President Trump Tuesday in the Oval Office prompted concern in some circles.
Trump said he would “follow the law” on back pay for federal workers, minutes after saying the compensation “depends on who we’re talking about” and that some workers would be taken care of “in a different way.”
The Associated Press and KTLA’s Sandra Mitchell contributed to this report.
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