The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator confirmed this week that the agency expects to experience staffing shortages, which could potentially result in flight delays next week. The Thanksgiving travel period is expected to be one of the year’s busiest weeks for commercial air transport as people nationwide travel over the long weekend.
Growing pains in the Northeast
The FAA, which is responsible for air traffic control across the country, met its hiring goals earlier this year but continues to face staffing shortages. Over 600 flights were delayed into NYC-area airports in advance of the Veteran’s Day weekend, and flights into Austin on Monday the 11th were delayed around half an hour when five air traffic controllers were unable to work as scheduled.
Related 5 Missing Air Traffic Controllers Delay Flights At Austin–Bergstrom International Airport US Representative Lloyd Doggett blasted the Federal Aviation Administration for its staffing issues, and said the airport has a “serious problem.”
The slowing of inbound flights is a standard procedure for air traffic controllers when a staffing or equipment issue occurs; an FAA spokesperson confirmed to Simple Flying earlier this month. Speaking to CNN at a news conference at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) yesterday, FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker confirmed the agency was expecting more delays over the coming days:
“During the Thanksgiving travel period, we will use traffic flow management initiatives to deal with any staffing shortages on that particular day in this airspace, and we expect to have some of those shortages. So, we’re working diligently to make sure that that can operate as efficiently as possible. “These initiatives keep the system safe, and people should know that safety is never at risk. If we are short on staff, we will slow traffic as needed to keep the system safe.
Expected Delays? FAA Says ATC Staffing Shortages Could Slow Air Traffic Amid Thanksgiving Travel
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