Orlando airport, one of America’s most popular travel hubs, came close to cancelling all landings after the government’s shutdown caused a last-minute scramble for air traffic controllers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had announced on Thursday evening there would be “no certified controllers for a period of time” which would “prevent landings”.
It later reversed the order when enough staff were found, but flights in and out of Orlando – home of Disney World and Universal Studios theme parks – faced delays, some up to 90 minutes.
There were also delays at Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington DC airports.
FlightAware, a flight tracking website, said nearly 6,000 flights had been delayed and 1,100 cancelled nationwide on Thursday, impacting 20% of flights at United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
Since the US government shutdown began on 1 October, more than 13,000 air traffic controllers have been required to work without pay.
Some are taking second jobs to make ends meet, and the number calling in sick has increased.
What’s going on?
In the US, a shutdown happens when funding legislation required to finance the federal government is not agreed on before the next fiscal year begins.
This is usually due to political differences over what to spend budgets on.
During President Donald Trump‘s first term in 2018, there was a 35-day shutdown caused by a dispute over expanding barriers on the US-Mexico border.
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This time, Republicans and Democrats are tussling over a bill that would make health insurance cheaper for millions of Americans and over a reversal of Mr Trump’s cuts to Medicaid, a programme that makes healthcare more affordable for the disadvantaged or those on low incomes.
As a result of a shutdown, federal workers such as military personnel, secret service agents, NASA, government workers, air traffic controllers, even National Parks staff are either furloughed or required to work for no pay.
Explainer: What exactly is a US ‘shutdown’?
US Transport Secretary Sean Duffy said this week that 44% of flight delays on Sunday and 24% on Monday were caused by air traffic controller absences, compared to 5% on average before the shutdown.
The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels and many had been working mandatory
overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown.
