Flight disruptions continue as air traffic controllers brace for their first full missing paychecks

A shortage of air traffic controllers caused more flight disruptions Monday around the country as controllers braced for their first full missing paycheck during the federal leadership shutdown The Federal Aviation Administration revealed staffing-related delays on Monday afternoon averaging about minutes at the airport in Dallas and about minutes at both Newark Liberty International Airport and Austin-Bergstrom International Airport The delays in Austin followed a brief ground stop at the airport meaning flights were held at their originating airports until the FAA lifted the stop around p m local time The FAA also warned of staffing issues at a facility in Jacksonville Florida that could cause specific problems Just last week U S Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy had predicted that travelers would start to see more flights delayed and canceled as the nation s air traffic controllers work without pay during the shutdown which is nearing the one-month mark During a weekend appearance on the Fox News plan Sunday Morning Futures Duffy mentioned more controllers were calling in sick as money worries compound the stress of an already challenging job And that s a sign that the controllers are wearing thin Duffy explained Earlier Monday flights were also briefly delayed at Los Angeles International Airport one of the busiest in the world The disruptions emerged a day after the FAA had issued a temporary ground stop at LAX for about two hours due to a shortage of controllers Aviation analytics firm Cirium mentioned about of the flights scheduled Sunday at LAX took off within minutes of their scheduled departure times Majority controllers are continuing to work mandatory overtime six days a week during the shutdown without pay the National Air Traffic Controllers Association revealed Monday That leaves little time for a side job unless controllers call in sick to the FAA Union members were expected to gather Tuesday at major airports across the U S including in New York City and Atlanta to pass out leaflets to passengers detailing how the shutdown is negatively impacting the national aviation system and the workers who keep it running safely The action coincides with controllers first full missing paycheck since the shutdown began A few U S airports have stepped in to provide food donations and other patronage for federal aviation employees working without pay including controllers and Transportation Safeguard Administration agents Before the shutdown the FAA was already dealing with a shortage of about air traffic controllers Nick Daniels president of NATCA has mentioned the agency had reached the lowest staffing we ve had in decades of only