Washington, October 8(HS): Flight delays across multiple US cities worsened on Tuesday as the federal government shutdown, now in its seventh day, aggravated staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and airport security officers. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported operational slowdowns at airports in Nashville, Boston, Chicago, and Philadelphia, and at major air traffic control centers in Atlanta and Dallas-Fort Worth.

The FAA temporarily restricted takeoffs to manage safety, echoing disruptions a day earlier when staffing issues led to delays in Burbank (California), Newark (New Jersey) and Denver. At Hollywood Burbank Airport, the control tower closed for several hours on Monday, causing average delays of 2.5 hours.

Union leaders for the National Air Traffic Controllers Association and Transportation Security Administration warned the situation could deteriorate further once federal employees miss their upcoming payday. Workers, continuing without pay under “essential services” rules, face mounting financial pressure and are already calling in sick at some locations.

Travel analyst Henry Harteveldt cautioned that prolonged shutdown impacts could disrupt millions of travellers during Thanksgiving in November. “This could ruin holiday plans for countless Americans,” he said.Both airlines and unions are urging an immediate end to the partisan deadlock.

In the meantime, several airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Tampa International, have launched support programs — providing food vouchers, free transport, and utility assistance — to help federal staff maintain operations.

Tampa Airport’s preparations, dubbed Operation Bald Eagle 2, aim to prevent mass absenteeism that could cripple services.

With political negotiations stalled, industry experts warn that without swift action, US aviation could face a cascading crisis, impacting both domestic and holiday travel in weeks to come.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar