DENVER (KDVR) — Denver’s air traffic controllers are facing staffing shortages as the ongoing federal government shutdown continues to leave employees without pay, impacting some airport operations on Tuesday.
According to a notice published by the Federal Aviation Administration, Denver controllers had a “staffing trigger” that began at 1 p.m. and will last until 5 p.m. The Phoenix airport was also showing low staffing levels among air traffic controllers on Tuesday.
That means Denver International Airport could implement traffic management through methods like a ground delay to help maintain safe conditions during the shortage.
On Oct. 31, the FAA said on X that nearly 13,000 air traffic controllers had been working without pay for weeks, and that a surge in callouts had been observed leading into the weekend at multiple facilities.
“Currently, half of our Core 30 facilities are experiencing staffing shortages, and nearly 80 percent of air traffic controllers are absent at New York-area facilities,” the FAA stated. “After 31 days without pay, air traffic controllers are under immense stress and fatigue.”
The FAA said that if staffing shortages continue, the FAA will reduce the rate of air traffic to maintain safety, which the FAA noted could lead to delays or cancellations.
U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary also took to X, noting that on Monday, 46% of flight delays were due to staffing issues with air traffic controllers.
“This is UNACCEPTABLE!” Duffy posted, including a video of White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “@PressSec is right: It is only going to get worse the longer the shutdown goes and the holiday travel season approaches.”
FOX31’s Shaul Turner asked aviation expert Steve Cowell about the FAA advisory and what it could mean for DIA.
He said that as the shutdown continues through the week, travelers should expect to see delays increase. The recent advisory means that the lack of controllers to help air traffic safely navigate the skies is leading to slower travel both in the air and on the ground, and Cowell said that TSA workers are calling in sick as they continue to see $0 paychecks.
Cowell also noted that a ground stop at Ronald Reagan National Airport, due to a bomb threat, lasted for about 80 minutes, and planes were diverted to New York and Philadelphia, which did not put extra stress on the travel system.
As of Tuesday, Cowell was not anticipating a huge impact on the Thanksgiving holiday travel period, but said that it is likely.
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