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Travelers across the United States are preparing for growing delays as workforce gaps at airports continue to worsen during the ongoing government closure, now reaching its seventh consecutive day.

Growing Concerns Over Aviation System

Labor leaders for flight controllers and TSA agents have cautioned that the circumstances is expected to worsen, with workforce issues documented at multiple major airports including locations such as Nashville, Boston, Dallas, Chicago and Philadelphia.

"The risk of wider impacts to the American air travel network continues to increase by the day," stated aviation expert Henry Harteveldt.

He voiced serious worry that if the shutdown continues, it could potentially disrupt countless American Thanksgiving travel plans in November.

Flight Delays and Operational Challenges

Workforce gaps, featuring an increased rate of workers taking sick leave, impacted key facilities around New York, Los Angeles and Denver on Monday, causing delays for over 6,000 flights across the country.

• The Burbank facility's air traffic control was briefly shut down and operations were handled by a different location
• The Nashville facility reported postponements averaging 120 minutes due to staffing issues
• O'Hare Airport in Chicago showed average delays of 41 minutes
• Dallas-Fort Worth had delays logged at half an hour

Sector Reaction and Union Position

The primary air traffic controllers union stressed that it does not support any coordinated activities that could adversely impact the National Airspace System.

The organization stated that flight controllers value their duty to protect public safety very seriously and engaging in any work stoppage could lead to removal from federal service.

Official Viewpoint

Transportation Secretary the transportation official alerted that the country's air traffic control system is being harmed from the ongoing government shutdown.

"They're not just thinking about the airspace," he commented regarding flight controllers who are not receiving salaries. "They're thinking about, 'Am I going to get a salary'?"

The official noted that many controllers depend on regular income and cannot afford prolonged durations without compensation.

Wider Consequences

According to contingency planning, roughly 25% of the employees, or more than 11,000 FAA employees, were furloughed when the closure started last week.

However, thirteen thousand flight controllers continue working, with hiring and training continuing as well.

Labor leader Nick Daniels pointed out that the shutdown has emphasized preexisting issues faced by air traffic controllers, including workforce gaps and outdated equipment.

He explained that the circumstances is especially serious at smaller airports where limited staffing creates additional challenges.

Regardless of the extensive postponements, aviation analytics showed that roughly 92% of flights departing from US airports departed as scheduled as of Tuesday afternoon.

The Federal Aviation Administration had not activated a "staffing trigger" that would reduce the number of flights in and out of airports, suggesting that activities were proceeding despite the challenges.