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Travelers across the United States are preparing for increasing disruptions as airport staffing shortages continue to worsen during the ongoing federal government shutdown, now reaching its seventh day.

Escalating Worries Over Aviation System

Labor leaders for flight controllers and TSA agents have warned that the circumstances is expected to worsen, with workforce issues reported at multiple major airports including facilities in Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Nashville and Philadelphia.

"The potential of broader effects to the American air travel network is growing by the day," stated travel industry analyst Henry Harteveldt.

He expressed serious worry that should the closure persist, it could potentially disrupt millions of Americans' Thanksgiving travel plans in November.

Flight Delays and Operational Challenges

Staffing shortages, including an increased rate of employees calling in sick, impacted major airports around Denver, Los Angeles and New York on Monday, resulting in postponements affecting more than 6,000 flights across the country.

• The Burbank facility's flight control was temporarily closed and responsibilities were managed by a different location
• The Nashville facility reported delays of approximately two hours due to staffing issues
• Chicago's O'Hare recorded average delays of nearly three-quarters of an hour
• The DFW airport had delays logged at half an hour

Industry Response and Union Position

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association emphasized that it does not endorse any coordinated activities that could negatively affect the National Airspace System.

The organization clarified that air traffic controllers take their responsibility to ensure passenger security extremely earnestly and engaging in any job action could result in removal from federal service.

Government Perspective

Transportation Secretary the transportation official alerted that the country's air traffic control system is suffering damage from the continuing federal closure.

"They're not just thinking about the airspace," he commented regarding flight controllers who are working without pay. "They're concerned about, 'Am I going to get a paycheck'?"

He noted that many controllers live paycheck to paycheck and are unable to manage prolonged durations without payment.

Wider Consequences

Based on contingency planning, approximately a quarter of the workforce, or over eleven thousand FAA employees, were temporarily laid off when the closure started last week.

Nevertheless, 13,000 air traffic controllers continue working, with recruitment and instruction continuing as well.

Union president Nick Daniels pointed out that the shutdown has highlighted preexisting issues encountered by flight controllers, including workforce gaps and aging technology.

He explained that the circumstances is especially serious at smaller airports where limited staffing creates additional challenges.

Despite the widespread delays, flight data indicated that roughly 92% of flights departing from US airports took off on time as of Tuesday afternoon.

The aviation regulator had not activated a "staffing trigger" that would decrease the flight volume in and out of airports, suggesting that activities were proceeding despite the difficulties.