How The Federal Shutdown May Affect Air Travel In GA

The federal government shutdown, in its eighth day Wednesday, is putting more stress on Georgia’s 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 earlier this week 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.

On Tuesday, the Federal Aviation Administration reported staffing issues at airports in Nashville, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia, and at its air traffic control centers in Atlanta, Houston and the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The agency temporarily slowed takeoffs of planes headed to the first three cities.

Flight disruptions a day earlier also were tied to insufficient staffing during the shutdown, which began Oct. 1. The FAA reported issues on Monday at the airports in Burbank, California; Newark, New Jersey; and Denver.

Despite the traffic snags, about 92 percent of the more than 23,600 flights departing from U.S. airports as of Tuesday afternoon took off on time, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

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

On Tuesday, there were 65 delays and two cancellations at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

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 Georgia include:

• Jimmy Carter Regional Airport, Americus
• Richter Airpark, Ashburn
• Smith Field Airport, Byron
• Mountain Airpark, Cleveland
• Young Field Airport, Dawson
• Fairview Park Hospital Heliport, Dublin
• Lawson Army Airfield, Fort Benning (Columbus)
• Peachtree Landings Airport, Fort Valley
• Middle Georgia Regional Airport, Macon
• Central State Hospital Heliport, Milledgeville
• Elite Helicopters, Ocilla
• Perry-Houston County Airport, Perry
• Peterson Field, Plains
• Barbour Island Airport, Shellman Bluff
• Henry Tift Myers Airport, Tifton
• Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta
• Houston Healthcare Hospital Heliport, Warner Robins
• Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins

Duffy said that 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.