US flight delays near 7,000 as government shutdown hits Day 27
JetBlue and Southwest Airlines planes are parked at the LaGuardia Airport in New York City, U.S. March 4, 2023. Photo by Reuters
U.S. air travel turmoil deepened as nearly 7,000 flights were delayed nationwide on Monday, with air traffic controller absences surging as the federal government shutdown reached its 27th day.
The Federal Aviation Administration cited staffing shortages and imposed ground delay programs affecting Newark Airport in New Jersey, Austin Airport in Texas and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport on Monday. Flights in the southeast were delayed earlier because of significant staffing shortages at the Atlanta Terminal Radar Approach Control.