The FAA confirmed worsening staffing shortages across its system amid the government shutdown.
For San Diego visitor, Rishab Gupta, his family’s 45-minute delay doesn’t feel long, but the thought of living another minute through a government shutdown does.
“Air traffic controllers are laid off,” he said. “A lot of people at the staff at the airport are laid off. And as a result, it has just created chaos right now for travelers. And this is as the holiday season is starting.”
Airport spokesperson, Fernando Alcala, said the holiday season is an important time to plan ahead and get to the airport early, but it’s even more crucial when coupled with a government shutdown.
“The main thing is trying to educate yourself on the pieces involved in your travel,” he said.
U.S. Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, warned Democrats of the turmoil on the way if they don’t open the government.
“You will see mass chaos. You will see mass flight delays,” he said. “You will see mass cancelations, and you may see us close certain parts of the airspace because we just cannot manage it because we don’t have the air traffic controllers.”
Traveler Alma Garcia said the shutdown is not the Democrats’ fault.
“They can’t put the blame on them because who’s in control of the office right now? The Republicans,” she said.
Garcia’s flight was delayed for hours because of her airline rather than TSA or the FAA, but she still felt for those employees.
“I worry about the people that are working for the federal government,” she said. “How are they going to put food on the table? How are they going to pay their bills if they’re playing this little blame game? They need to grow up and start getting back to work.”
With still no indication of when the shutdown will end, Alcala strongly suggests arriving to the airport two hours before a flight.
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