Sachin Walls
A government shutdown can cause significant disruptions to air travel, but it is unlikely to result in the complete closure of airports. While airports will remain operational during a shutdown, extended shutdowns can lead to longer wait times and travel delays as staff shortages increase. TSA workers and air traffic controllers are deemed essential employees and will continue working without pay, but they may call in sick or retire early due to financial strain, exacerbating existing staffing shortages. The longer a shutdown persists, the more issues travellers may encounter, with the potential for flight cancellations and airport terminal closures.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Can a government shutdown close airports? | No, airports will remain open during a government shutdown. |
| Will flights be affected? | Flights will continue to operate, but there may be delays, especially during extended shutdowns. |
| Will airport security be impacted? | Security checkpoints will remain open, but there may be longer wait times due to staff shortages. TSA workers are deemed essential but are not paid during shutdowns. |
| How does it affect air traffic controllers? | Air traffic controllers are considered essential employees and will continue to work without pay. However, a shutdown disrupts hiring and training, exacerbating existing staff shortages. |
| What about other airport services? | Other services, such as Global Entry applications and passport offices, may be impacted and experience delays or closures. |
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What You'll Learn
- Airports remain open during government shutdowns, but expect delays
- Air traffic controllers and TSA agents are essential workers and must work without pay
- Staff shortages due to sick calls and early retirements increase wait times
- Shutdowns disrupt the hiring and training of new air traffic controllers
- Longer shutdowns cause more issues, including flight delays and cancellations
Airports remain open during government shutdowns, but expect delays
Airports will remain open during a government shutdown, but travellers should expect delays. While a partial government shutdown is unlikely to impact flights or airport operations immediately, a prolonged shutdown could lead to travel delays.
During a government shutdown, air travel is managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airport security is managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Both agencies will continue to operate but at lower levels of service, as only some of their employees are exempt from furlough. The more than 14,000 air traffic controllers and most of the 60,000 TSA workers are not paid during a shutdown, but they will eventually receive back pay.
In the past, shutdowns have resulted in longer wait times at airports. During the 35-day shutdown in 2018-2019, for example, there was a spike in unscheduled absences by TSA agents, with the national rate reaching 10%. This led to long lines at airports, with wait times to get through TSA checkpoints lasting over an hour in some places. The Miami and Houston airports had to temporarily close terminals. Similarly, in 2019, an increase in absences by controllers and TSA officers due to missed paychecks caused extended checkpoint wait times at some airports.
The head of the TSA, David Pekoske, has warned that an extended shutdown could lead to longer wait times at airports. While the agency is prepared to handle high volumes of travellers, an extended shutdown could disrupt travel plans. The longer a shutdown goes on, the more likely it is that worker shortages will occur as unpaid government employees call out sick.
In addition to potential delays, a government shutdown could also impact other airport services. For example, Global Entry applications may be put on hold, and new planes and routes may be grounded. A shutdown could also disrupt the hiring and training of air traffic controllers, exacerbating the existing air traffic controller shortage and causing further flight delays and cancellations.
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Air traffic controllers and TSA agents are essential workers and must work without pay
Airports will remain open during a government shutdown, but a prolonged shutdown can cause significant disruptions to air travel. Air traffic controllers and TSA agents are considered essential workers and must continue working without pay during a shutdown. However, as the stoppage continues, these workers start to feel the financial strain, leading to increased sick days and absences. This results in longer wait times at airports and potential temporary terminal closures.
Air traffic controllers are responsible for maintaining the safety and reliability of the nation's aviation network. They already work long hours under tremendous pressure, and a shutdown only adds to their stress. During a shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) cannot hire or train new air traffic controllers, exacerbating existing staff shortages. This, in turn, can lead to flight delays and potentially unsafe conditions.
TSA agents are also deemed essential workers and are required to provide security screenings at airports during a shutdown. While they will eventually receive back pay, the financial burden of working without immediate compensation can be significant. As a result, many TSA agents call in sick rather than work without pay, leading to staff shortages. This was evident during the 2018-2019 partial government shutdown, where TSA sick days spiked, and wait times at airports exceeded one hour in some places.
The impact of a government shutdown on air travel is closely linked to its duration. While a short shutdown may not cause significant disruptions, an extended shutdown can lead to longer wait times, flight delays, and potential travel cancellations. The longer the shutdown continues, the more problems travelers may encounter. This is due to the cumulative effects of staff shortages, training disruptions, and financial strain on essential workers.
To mitigate the impact of a shutdown on air travel, federal agencies must address the financial challenges faced by essential workers. Providing timely compensation or alternative support mechanisms could reduce sick days and absences among air traffic controllers and TSA agents. Additionally, ensuring adequate staffing levels and maintaining training programs for air traffic controllers can help maintain the efficiency and safety of airport operations during a shutdown.
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Staff shortages due to sick calls and early retirements increase wait times
A government shutdown closes non-essential government operations due to a lack of funding. While a government shutdown may not directly close airports, it can cause significant disruptions to air travel, including increased wait times and flight delays. Staff shortages due to sick calls and early retirements are a significant factor contributing to these issues.
During a government shutdown, many air traffic controllers and transportation security officers are required to work without pay, leading to increased stress and financial difficulties. As a result, some employees choose to take leave or seek alternative employment, causing a reduction in staff numbers. This was evident during the 2018-2019 shutdown, which resulted in a significant number of air traffic controllers retiring early, further exacerbating staffing shortages.
The impact of staff shortages is compounded by the fact that training for new employees is halted during a shutdown. This was particularly notable during the 2018-2019 shutdown, which disrupted the hiring and training of new air traffic controllers, contributing to the ongoing shortage. The combination of reduced staff and inadequate training can lead to longer wait times at airports as security checkpoints may be closed or have longer lines.
Additionally, staff shortages can increase safety risks in air travel. When air traffic is rerouted or put into holding patterns due to understaffing, the opportunity for mistakes in instruction increases due to abrupt changes in operations and increased communication demands. This erosion of safety margins underscores the urgency of addressing staffing shortages and ensuring adequate resources for the aviation industry.
The impact of staff shortages due to sick calls and early retirements during a government shutdown can have a significant ripple effect on airport operations. It leads to increased wait times, flight delays, and potential safety risks. These issues highlight the importance of addressing funding and staffing challenges to ensure the smooth and secure functioning of airports during periods of financial uncertainty.
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Shutdowns disrupt the hiring and training of new air traffic controllers
Airports will remain operational during a government shutdown. However, a prolonged shutdown can cause significant disruptions to air travel, including delays and cancellations. While air traffic controllers are required to work during a shutdown, they do so without pay, often under immense stress and fatigue, which can compromise the safety of the nation's airspace.
Shutdowns also disrupt the hiring and training of new air traffic controllers, further exacerbating the existing staffing crisis. For instance, during the 2018-2019 government shutdown, there was a notable increase in unscheduled absences among TSA agents, with the national rate reaching 10%, causing long lines and temporary terminal closures in some airports. This "sick out" was attributed to employees protesting the lack of government funding.
The shutdown also led to early retirements among air traffic controllers, contributing to a 30-year low in the number of fully certified controllers. The FAA continues to face a shortage of controllers, resulting in flight delays and further straining those forced to work during a shutdown.
Additionally, a shutdown can cause significant setbacks in the hiring and training pipeline. For example, a shutdown could result in the furlough of over 500 air traffic control trainees at the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City, delaying their entry into the field and exacerbating the staffing crisis.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) has expressed concern about the potential impact of a shutdown on the hiring and training of new controllers, urging Congress to act swiftly to avoid disruptions to the safety and efficiency of the nation's aviation network.
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Longer shutdowns cause more issues, including flight delays and cancellations
While airports will remain operational during a government shutdown, longer shutdowns can cause significant issues for travellers. During a partial government shutdown, air travel and airport security will continue to operate, but at lower levels of service. That's because only some Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) employees are exempt from furlough. The majority of the more than 14,000 air traffic controllers and 60,000 TSA workers are not paid during a shutdown, leading to staff shortages.
During the 35-day government shutdown in 2018-2019, the national rate for unscheduled absences for TSA agents reached 10%, up from just over 3% the previous year. This led to long lines at airports, with wait times to get through TSA checkpoints lasting over an hour in some places. The Miami and Houston airports had to temporarily close terminals.
The FAA also cannot hire or train new air traffic controllers during a shutdown, exacerbating existing staff shortages. This can lead to flight delays and cancellations, as seen during the 2018-2019 shutdown, which caused some controllers to retire early, adding to the shortage of fully certified controllers.
The longer a shutdown continues, the more problems travellers may encounter. The TSA expects to screen a record number of passengers during the holidays, and an extended shutdown could lead to longer wait times at airports.
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Frequently asked questions
Airports will remain open during a government shutdown, but there may be longer wait times at security checkpoints.
Flights should operate as normal during a government shutdown, but there may be delays if the shutdown is extended.
Airport security checkpoints will remain operational during a government shutdown, but with a reduced number of staff. This may result in longer wait times for passengers.
Air traffic controllers are considered essential employees and will continue to work during a government shutdown. However, a shutdown may impact the hiring and training of new air traffic controllers, potentially exacerbating existing staff shortages.
A government shutdown could result in staff shortages as employees call in sick due to not being paid. This could lead to longer wait times at airports and impact other services such as passport applications and Global Entry enrolment.
