Jazmin Li
While a government shutdown may not lead to an immediate airport shutdown, it can cause disruptions in air travel and airport operations if it is extended. During a government shutdown, air traffic controllers and TSA agents are considered essential workers and will continue to work without pay. However, as seen in previous shutdowns, some employees may not report to work, leading to longer wait times at airports and potential flight delays or cancellations. The impact of a government shutdown on airports depends on various factors, including the duration of the shutdown, staffing levels, and the ability to manage high volumes of travelers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Impact on flights | Flights will continue to operate during a government shutdown. |
| Impact on airport operations | Airport operations will continue as normal during a government shutdown. |
| Impact on airport workers | Airport workers like air traffic controllers and TSA agents are considered essential employees and will continue to work without pay during a shutdown. |
| Impact on wait times | Extended government shutdowns may lead to longer wait times at airports due to staff shortages and closed security checkpoints. |
| Impact on hiring | A government shutdown may impact ATC hiring. |
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What You'll Learn
Airports remain open during government shutdowns
Airports will remain open during a government shutdown. While flights and airport operations should function normally initially, extended shutdowns may cause delays. A partial government shutdown is unlikely to impact flights or airport operations right away, but a prolonged shutdown could lead to travel delays.
During a partial government shutdown, air travel managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airport security managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will continue to operate but at lower levels of service. TSA workers at airport security checkpoints are considered "mission essential" and will be required to work without pay if there is a government shutdown. A TSA spokesperson said that 59,000 of the agency's 62,000 employees are considered essential workers and will continue to work.
The head of the TSA, David Pekoske, warned that an extended partial government shutdown could lead to longer wait times at airports. While personnel are prepared to handle high volumes of travellers and ensure safe travel, an extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at airports. During the last government shutdown, which lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019, travellers faced longer lines because some air traffic controllers and TSA agents didn't report to work.
Airport workers like air traffic controllers are considered essential employees, so they will continue to work throughout the shutdown, ensuring planes take off and land as normal. However, all hiring and training of additional air traffic controllers cease during a government shutdown, which could lead to more disruptions in the future.
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Flights and airport operations continue initially
While a government shutdown may not impact flights or airport operations immediately, it can cause disruptions in the long run. Airport workers like air traffic controllers and TSA agents are considered essential employees, so they are required to work without pay during a shutdown. However, as seen in previous shutdowns, working without pay can take its toll, leading to an increase in absences and sick leaves. This can result in longer wait times at airports and potential flight delays or cancellations.
During a partial government shutdown, air travel managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airport security managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will continue to operate but at lower levels of service. While airports will remain open, and planes will continue to fly, other services could be affected. For example, during the 35-day shutdown in 2018-2019, some airports closed specific terminals early due to staffing shortages, causing some flights to depart from different terminals.
The impact of a government shutdown on air travel also depends on the timing. A shutdown that coincides with the holiday season, when travel volumes are high, can cause more significant disruptions. For instance, during the 2022 holiday season, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) expected to screen a record 40 million passengers. A shutdown during this period could lead to longer wait times at security checkpoints.
Additionally, a government shutdown can exacerbate existing shortages of air traffic controllers. With the shutdown halting all hiring and training, this can lead to more disruptions in the future, even after the shutdown ends.
In summary, while flights and airport operations may continue initially during a government shutdown, extended or repeated shutdowns can have cascading effects, leading to travel delays, cancellations, and increased wait times at airports.
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Extended shutdowns cause travel delays
While airports will remain open during a government shutdown, extended shutdowns may cause travel delays. A prolonged shutdown could lead to longer wait times at airports, as some staff may not report to work.
During a partial government shutdown, air travel managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and airport security managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will continue to operate but at lower levels of service. TSA workers at airport security checkpoints are considered "mission essential" and will be required to work without pay if there is a government shutdown.
In the past, during a 35-day shutdown in 2019, the number of absences by controllers and TSA officers rose as workers missed paychecks, extending checkpoint wait times at some airports. The FAA was forced to slow air traffic, putting pressure on lawmakers to end the standoff.
The head of the TSA, David Pekoske, has warned that an extended partial government shutdown could lead to longer wait times at airports. He stated that while the TSA is prepared to handle high volumes of travelers and ensure safe travel, an extended shutdown could result in longer wait times.
Therefore, while airports will generally remain open during a government shutdown, extended shutdowns can cause travel delays due to staff shortages and reduced operations.
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Air traffic controller shortages lead to flight cancellations
While a government shutdown may not immediately ground flights, it can contribute to air traffic controller shortages, which can, in turn, lead to flight cancellations. Air traffic controllers are considered essential employees and will continue to work without pay during a shutdown. However, as seen in previous shutdowns, controller absences tend to increase as workers miss paychecks, causing longer wait times and disruptions to air travel.
The current shortage of air traffic controllers in the United States is a pressing issue. It has resulted in delays and cancellations at major airports, with some flights even being diverted. This issue is particularly prominent at Newark Liberty International Airport, which has experienced significant delays and cancellations due to staffing levels being well below target. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been forced to limit flights in congested areas like New York because of insufficient controller numbers.
The controller shortage has multiple causes. Firstly, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a record drop in flights, leading to many controllers retiring or being let go. When demand rebounded, agencies struggled to keep up, and controllers were pushed to their limits. Secondly, controllers are often overworked and suffer from fatigue, which can lead to safety incidents. Thirdly, outdated technology and systems used by the FAA have caused outages and grounded flights.
To address the shortage, the FAA is working to train and certify more controllers, offering higher pay to trainees. However, the process takes time, and the shortage is expected to persist in the near future, continuing to impact air travel.
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TSA workers are unpaid and this may cause absences
While a government shutdown may not immediately impact air travel, with planes continuing to fly and airport security checkpoints remaining open, it can cause significant disruptions in the long run. TSA workers are considered "mission-essential" employees and will be required to work without pay during a government shutdown. This means that 59,000 out of 62,000 TSA employees will continue working without compensation, which can lead to financial strain and low morale.
As seen in previous government shutdowns, the absence of pay can result in increased absences and TSA agents calling in sick, causing delays in security screenings at airports. For instance, during the 2019 shutdown, the number of absences by controllers and TSA officers rose as they missed paychecks, leading to extended checkpoint wait times.
TSA Administrator David Pekoske acknowledged this issue, stating that while TSA personnel are prepared to handle high volumes of travelers, an extended shutdown could result in longer wait times at airports. This is especially concerning during the holiday travel rush, where a record number of passengers are expected to fly.
The potential impact of a government shutdown on TSA workers and airport operations highlights the importance of finding solutions to ensure fair compensation and minimize disruptions to air travel.
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Frequently asked questions
Airports will remain open during a government shutdown. Flights and airport operations should function normally initially, but extended shutdowns may cause delays.
During the last government shutdown, which lasted 35 days from December 2018 to January 2019, travelers faced longer lines because some air traffic controllers and TSA agents didn't report to work. Many security checkpoints were also closed.
A partial government shutdown is unlikely to impact flights or airport operations right away, but a prolonged shutdown could lead to travel delays.
Airport security managed by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will continue to operate but at lower levels of service. TSA workers are considered "mission essential" and will be required to work without pay if there is a government shutdown.
International travel shouldn't face issues as domestic consular operations, including passport and visa services, will remain functional as they are fee-funded operations.
