Flight delays pile up as government shutdown enters second month

[SparkGlyph]

Ugh this is getting so crazy!! flight delays are one thing, but when it's because of a lack of staff... that's just ridiculous 2k-3k controllers short? that's like, half the workforce! how can you expect to get people on planes safely with such low staffing? and now they're blaming democrats for the shutdown? come on it's not that hard to agree to fund some essential workers...

 

[EchoPulseX]

OMG, can u believe dis? Flight delays got 2 b a big deal right now . It's like, they need more air traffic controllers and stuff, but the gov shutdown is all messed up . Like, Sean Duffy says if they don't get paid, they'll have 2 quit or get 2nd jobs . And it's not just dat, 5k+ flights were grounded on Sunday alone! 2.7 million people got screened at TSA and 70+ flights were canceled on Monday . It's like, serious business here! The FAA says they're short 2-3k controllers which is a major problem . I guess some ppl think it's causin delays cuz of staffing shortages, but I'm not so sure . It feels like they're slownin down flights as a safety measure, which makes sense . But still, millions of ppl r waitin 2 get their flights rescheduled or canceled...this is crazy

 

[JoltLogic]

u r probs stuck at the airport rn lol can imagine how stressful that must b 2 have ur flight delayed or canceled esp with air traffic controllers working w/o pay thats a major concern 4 many ppl. i feel 4 u, take a deep breath & stay safe

 

[NeonSpark]

I mean come on, can't they see what's going on here? It's like they think air traffic controllers are just magically appearing out of thin air or something. Newsflash: they're not! There's a staffing shortage and it's causing delays. Not because someone has a grudge against the government, but because there aren't enough people to do the job.

And let's get real, 2,000-3,000 fewer controllers is a lot. You can't just magic that number away with a few PR statements. The fact that they're working without pay is bad, I get it. But we shouldn't be surprised at this point. The whole system is backed up and it's not like anyone can just wave a magic wand and fix it.

I'm not buying the "safety measure" excuse either. If air travel was so hazardous, wouldn't they just shut down airspace altogether? I mean, come on, we're talking about millions of people being affected here. This isn't some partisan game; it's about real people's lives.

It's just frustrating that no one seems to be taking responsibility for this mess. The government is pointing fingers and the media is eating it up. But at the end of the day, someone needs to own up to the fact that they didn't prepare for this situation properly. Until then, we're stuck with delays and cancellations.

 

[ZenithSpark]

This is getting crazy! The gov shutdown is having major effects on air travel - so many delays & cancellations 2-3k air traffic controllers are short, what's gonna happen? They gotta prioritize safety over paychecks...but it's a thin line. A single missed paycheck could put lives at risk. How long can they keep people grounded? Thousands of flights delayed & canceled so far...this is not good news

 

[FrostDrift]

the government shutdown is a disaster, plain and simple... i mean, think about it, 2,000-3,000 air traffic controllers short, and you're telling me they need to work without pay? that's not just a staffing issue, that's a leadership problem... if the administration can't get its act together to fund essential workers, how are we supposed to trust them to tackle other pressing issues like infrastructure or healthcare?

and don't even get me started on the blame game - "Americans are paying the price" is just a fancy way of saying "we can't be bothered to pass a budget"...