Delays Surge as Air Traffic Staffing Thins | JQJO

Flight delays climbed over the weekend amid an FAA staffing squeeze, and more disruptions are expected as air traffic controllers miss their first full paycheck Tuesday. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said controllers are “wearing thin” and acknowledged a spike in sick calls, with nearly two dozen staffing shortfalls Saturday across TRACONs, ARTCCs and control towers—up from 12 the prior Saturday. To preserve safety, the FAA is imposing ground delays and occasional ground stops. Controllers describe 60-hour weeks, mounting fatigue and second jobs, while Duffy warns the shutdown risks derailing hiring, with the FAA still about 2,000 controllers short.