Federal Shutdown Affecting Air Traffic Control, Regional Airports: What To Know In CA

The federal government shutdown, in its seventh day Tuesday, is putting more stress on California air traffic controllers as well as threatening a program that small communities rely on to subsidize airline service.

Controllers are expected to continue working without a paycheck, so they are now worried about how to pay their bills in addition to worrying about keeping flights safe, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday in a news conference at Newark Liberty International Airport.

“Now what they think about as they’re controlling our airspace is, how am I going to pay my mortgage? How do I make my car payment? I have a couple kids at home. How do I put food on the table? I’m working six days a week. Do I have to take a second job and drive Uber when I’m already exhausted from doing a job that’s already stressful to think about how I can make extra money because the government may not provide me a paycheck?” Duffy said.

There were some instances Monday of air traffic controllers calling out sick, leading to travel snarls at several airports. About 6,000 flights were cancelled or delayed at multiple airports.

It’s a good idea for travelers out of California airports to check with a flight tracking service such as FlightAware to see if their flights are on time, delayed, or cancelled.

Monday evening, the Federal Aviation Administration was reporting that staffing shortages were creating delays in the Burbank, Newark and Denver airports. The worst problems were in Burbank, where California Gov. Gavin Newsom said no controllers were on duty for several hours during the evening, leading to average delays of two-and-a-half hours at that airport.

RELATED: 'Zero' Air Traffic Controllers Working At Burbank Airport Monday Night: Newsom

As of 10 a.m. on Tuesday, there are no arrival or departure delays at any major California airports except for the Ontario International Airport in Southern California, which was seeing arrival delays of an average of 25 minutes but that was decreasing. The head of the air traffic controllers union, Nick Daniels, stayed away from political comments, but he urged Congress to end the shutdown.

“We need to bring this shutdown to a close, so that the Federal Aviation Administration and the committed aviation safety professionals can put this distraction behind us, and completely focus on their vital work,” Daniels said.

If the sick-out worsens and creates a shortage of controllers, the FAA will reduce the number of takeoffs and landings to ensure controllers aren't overwhelmed, and the system remains safe. But that creates delays and possibly cancellations. Near the end of the 35-day shutdown during the first Trump administration, there were widespread flight delays because of staffing shortages.

Also, Duffy said at the news conference, the Essential Air Service program that subsidizes airline service to small communities across the country will also quickly run out of money. Eligible airports in California include:

• Adin - Adin, CA
• Adin Helicopter Base - Adin, CA
• Alturas Muni - Alturas, CA
• Bates Fld - Alturas, CA
• California Pines - Alturas, CA
• Catalina - Avalon, CA
• Pebbly Beach - Avalon, CA
• Baker - Baker, CA
• Goldstone /Gts/ - Barstow, CA
• Rodgers Flat - Belden, CA
• Southard Fld - Bieber, CA
• Bishop - Bishop, CA
• Inyo County Sheriff Search & Rescue - Bishop, CA
• Blythe - Blythe, CA
• Blythe Service Center - Blythe, CA
• Clayton - Blythe, CA
• Morris Ag Air Sw - Blythe, CA
• Brawley Muni - Brawley, CA
• Pioneers Meml Hospital - Brawley, CA
• Bryant Fld - Bridgeport, CA
• Pickel Meadows Eaf - Bridgeport, CA
• Burney Service Center - Burney, CA
• Burney Sheriff's Station - Burney, CA
• Api Gateway - Calexico, CA
• Calexico Intl - Calexico, CA
• Cliff Hatfield Meml - Calipatria, CA
• Cedarville - Cedarville, CA
• Chemehuevi Valley - Chemehuevi Valley, CA
• Rogers Fld - Chester, CA
• Usfs Chester - Chester, CA
• Chico Rgnl - Chico, CA
• China Lake Naws (Armitage Fld) - China Lake, CA
• Columbia - Columbia, CA
• Corning Muni - Corning, CA
• Flying N Ranch - Cottonwood, CA
• Lake California Air Park - Cottonwood, CA
• Round Valley - Covelo, CA
• Jack Mc Namara Fld - Crescent City, CA
• Furnace Creek - Death Valley National Park, CA
• Stovepipe Wells - Death Valley National Park, CA
• Iron Mountain Pumping Plant - Desert Center, CA
• Dunsmuir Muni-Mott - Dunsmuir, CA
• White Pine - Eagleville, CA
• El Centro Naf (Vraciu Fld) - El Centro, CA
• El Centro Rgnl Medical Center - El Centro, CA
• Fall River Mills - Fall River Mills, CA
• Fort Bidwell - Fort Bidwell, CA
• Fort Bragg - Fort Bragg, CA
• Mendocino Coast District Hospital - Fort Bragg, CA
• Bicycle Lake Aaf - Fort Irwin/Barstow, CA
• Camino Airstrip - Goffs, CA
• Plumas Hospital District - Greenville, CA
• Hermitage - Groveland, CA
• Pine Mountain Lake - Groveland, CA
• Old Canal Helipad - Igo, CA
• Imperial County - Imperial, CA
• Independence - Independence, CA
• Kistler Ranch - Jamestown, CA
• Lee Vining - Lee Vining, CA
• Likely - Likely, CA
• Lone Pine/Death Valley - Lone Pine, CA
• Bald Mountain - Long Barn, CA
• Mammoth Yosemite - Mammoth Lakes, CA
• Double Creek Airpark - Manton, CA
• Merced Yosemite Rgnl - Merced, CA
• Mercy Medical Center Mt Shasta - Mount Shasta, CA
• Needles - Needles, CA
• Haigh Fld - Orland, CA
• Lake Oroville Landing Area - Oroville, CA
• Walter's Camp - Palo Verde, CA
• Gene Wash Reservoir - Parker Dam, CA
• Ravendale - Ravendale, CA
• Rancho Tehama - Red Bluff, CA
• Red Bluff Muni - Red Bluff, CA
• Benton Fld - Redding, CA
• Mercy Medical Center - Redding, CA
• Redding Rgnl - Redding, CA
• Shasta Rgnl Medical Center - Redding, CA
• The Mcconnell Foundation - Redding, CA
• Ridgecrest Rgnl Hospital Helistop 1 - Ridgecrest, CA
• Sce Ridgecrest Service Center - Ridgecrest, CA
• Tera - Ridgecrest, CA
• San Clemente Island Nalf - San Clemente Island, CA
• San Nicolas Island Nolf - San Nicolas Island, CA
• Christy Airstrip - Santa Barbara, CA
• Santa Cruz Ranch - Santa Barbara, CA
• Commodore Center - Sausalito, CA
• Sonora Rgnl Medical Center - Sonora, CA
• Banner Lassen Medical Center - Susanville, CA
• Spaulding - Susanville, CA
• Trona - Trona, CA
• Tulelake Muni - Tulelake, CA
• Deer Creek Ranch - Vina, CA
• Harvard - Yermo, CA

Duffy said that the program enjoys strong bipartisan support and provides an important lifeline to many small communities. It is especially important in Alaska, where flying is the only way to travel between many communities.

“That money runs out this Sunday. So there’s many small communities across the country that will now no longer have the resources to make sure they have air service in their community,” Duffy said.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.