The shortages have affected travelers coming to or from Atlanta, New York City, and Philadelphia.
Twitter users have expressed frustration at Friday’s delays and the ongoing shutdown.
The federal government shutdown has resulted in delays at major US airports due to a shortage of air-traffic controllers at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
The shortages have affected travelers coming to or from Atlanta, New York City, Philadelphia, and D.C.
The FAA said in a statement that there is a “slight increase” in the number of workers calling out sick at two facilities: Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center, in Leesburg, Virginia, and Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center in Hillard, Florida. The facilities are responsible for coordinating air traffic along much of the East Coast.
“We are mitigating the impact by augmenting staffing, rerouting traffic, and increasing spacing between aircraft when needed,” the agency said.
The delays come as the federal government shutdown, the longest in US history, has reached its 35th day. Over 800,000 federal workers missed their second consecutive paycheck on Friday, though some employees that perform what are classified as essential functions, like managing air traffic and performing security checks at airports, have been required to work without pay during the shutdown.
Twitter users have expressed frustration at Friday’s delays and the ongoing shutdown. Here’s what they’re saying.
Got a ride to airport by a furloughed worker driving to make ends meat. Then my flights delayed bc of shutdown. Just another day in America.
— David Grann (@DavidGrann) January 25, 2019
As I sit in LaGuardia trying to get to Chicago with my flight delayed over an hour this KILLS me #EndTheShutdownNow
— Andy (@p0rfavor) January 25, 2019
Donald Trumps government shutdown has my dads flight delayed from lack of staff and i cant believe this is actually America rn
— Jessie Rae (@JessieJ_rae) January 25, 2019
hey @realDonaldTrump my brother's flight was delayed because you're a big whiny baby. could you maybe try to not be a big whiny baby?
— Dave Goldhahn (@davegoldhahn) January 25, 2019
my flight home is delayed bc of the fucking gov’t shutdown this is all ur fault @realDonaldTrump fuck u and ur dumbass wall
— cailin (@cccailin) January 25, 2019
Ayyyy my flight is OMEGA delayed
Thanks to the shut down— Ali (@SadcoAli) January 25, 2019
I already hated this “president” but now my flight is delayed because of the shutdown. No one fucks with my travels #fucktrump #fuckthewall
— Matt (@matt_trulli) January 25, 2019
Pussy boy @realDonalTrunp making my flight delayed
Building a “wall” childish asf
— RJ THE GOAT (@RONNYJLISTENUP) January 25, 2019
Sitting on runway delayed, flight will take half hour longer because of longer/different route, and MY TV DOESN’T WORK on the Jet Blue. The shutdown is real, bruh. ♂️ pic.twitter.com/AJTJOrihz6
— Bucci Mane (@Buccigross) January 25, 2019
This article was originally published on Business Insider. Copyright 2019.
