Air traffic controller shortage leaves Chicago O’Hare most-delayed US airport
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport operated on a partial staff of air traffic controllers Tuesday night, according to several reports. The shortage of controllers appears to be a combination of sick calls and staffing issues as the government shutdown continues.
Chicago airport issues
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground delay at O’Hare International Airport (ORD), which is the eighth-busiest airport in the world.
“It’s something that’s put in place to make the FAA aware that staffing levels are down a little bit, so they can take the appropriate measures to maybe slow down traffic to the level of staffing,” Drew MacQueen, a union rep for that region from the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, or NATCA, told WGN9. “What they don’t need is the fatigue of dealing with that job while being short-staffed, working six days a week, 10 hours a day. Now they’re worried about when they’ll get paid.”
FlightAware’s aptly named Misery Map showed ORD had the most delays in the country Tuesday night, with delays averaging 41 minutes.
The shortage at O’Hare was projected to last for nine hours Tuesday night, going until about 4 a.m. local time Wednesday.
Controllers calling out
FAA Secretary Sean Duffy said the country’s airports have seen an increase in controllers calling out sick since the government shutdown began.
“Absenteeism is a concern,” Duffy said in a Monday press conference covered by ABC7 in New York. “Again, we’ve had it. We’ve had a few airports that we’re tracking it. We don’t have one facility that has had long-term issues with the sick leave. But that is concerning to me. And if someone has to take sick leave, to drive Uber to make the difference, those are decisions they’re going to make themselves. But of course, that’s concerning for us.”
As “essential employees,” air traffic controllers are expected to continue working during the government shutdown. They received full payment during the last pay cycle but will only receive partial wages if the shutdown goes beyond Oct. 14. They will not be paid two weeks later if the shutdown remains in effect.
NATCA has called on members to remain on the job.
“NATCA does not endorse, support, or condone any federal employees participating in or endorsing a coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the [National Airspace System], or any other activities that undermine the professional image and reputation of the people we represent,” the union said in a statement on their website. “Air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals take their responsibility to protect the safety of the flying public very seriously. Participating in a job action could result in removal from federal service. It is not only illegal, but it also undermines NATCA’s credibility and severely weakens our ability to effectively advocate for you and your families.”
They’ve also called on the government to end the shutdown.
“When the federal government shuts down it introduces unnecessary distractions and our entire aviation system is weakened,” Nick Daniels, NATCA president, said in a statement. “Congress must restore federal funding so that the safety and efficiency of our National Airspace System is not compromised.”
Other airports impacted
It’s not just Chicago feeling the shutdown. The FAA has reduced the number of flights in and out of Nashville International Airport (BNA) because of controller shortages.
“This reduction will remain in effect until further notice,” BNA officials said in a statement to The Tennessean. “All airlines have been informed. Travelers should check the status of their flight with their airline before arriving at BNA. As a reminder, FAA has sole responsibility for the National Airspace System.”
FlightAware said flights bound for Nashville have been delayed more than two hours, on average.
Meanwhile, in Burbank, California, the Hollywood Burbank Airport had zero air traffic controllers in their tower for nearly six hours on Monday night.
Operations were run remotely by Southern California TRACON, a team based in San Diego.
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
