CHARLOTTE — The effects of the government shutdown are starting to impact air travel, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA says it’s been delaying flights due to air traffic controller shortages.
However, officials with Charlotte Douglas International Airport said Tuesday they do not anticipate any impacts to operations.
“CLT is closely monitoring the situation and remains in close communication with our federal partners,” officials said.
The federal transportation secretary says many controllers are calling out sick since they’re no longer getting paid.
Initial delays started in Denver, Newark and Burbank, but at least a dozen facilities could be impacted.
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However, CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean says there could be a silver lining.
“The very same thing ended the 35-day government shutdown back in 2019,” Muntean said. “Controllers calling out sick led to ground stops and delays at some of the country’s busiest airports, and when that happened, lawmakers reached a deal pretty quickly.”
This time around, negotiations for a bipartisan deal appear to be in stalemate. Republicans say they won’t negotiate with Democrats until after the government reopens. Democrats say that order of events doesn’t work.
Charlotte Douglas wants to remind passengers to be inside the terminal two hours before domestic flights and three hours before international flights.
Passengers should also contact their airline for there updated flight status.
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