Ground delays issued amid shortage of air controllers as shutdown continues

As the government shutdown drags on, so do woes at airports — this time at Orlando International Airport in Florida.

A ground delay was issued Thursday evening for Orlando MCO — the state’s busiest airport — with departures to the airport delayed an average of 2.7 hours because of staffing issues. The delay is in effect from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. ET, according to a Federal Aviation Administration advisory.

Earlier in the evening, the FAA said the airport would be unable to land arriving flights for a period because no certified air traffic controllers were available at the hub.

That was later remedied, with the FAA saying there has been an “increase in staffing” for the F11 Central Florida Tracon, which is staffed by controllers.

A MCO spokesperson said the ground delay is over staffing issues, and the delay program “has reduced the rate of arrivals at the airport and passengers may experience delays on average of 2 ½ hours.”

Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, was also experiencing ground delays averaging 90 minutes, also because of staffing issues. The delay was from 1:30 p.m. Thursday to 1 a.m. Friday, according to the FAA.

It’s the latest setback to hit beleaguered American airports grappling with staffing shortages, delays and cancellations as air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration workers go without pay.

Flights departing for Los Angeles International Airport were halted Sunday morning because of a staffing shortage. A temporary ground stop was issued, with planes headed for Los Angeles held at originating airports and delayed averaging an hour and 40 minutes.

Tuesday marked the first time federal employees — including air traffic controllers — received their zero-dollar paychecks as the shutdown has dragged into the 30-day mark.

The turmoil affecting air travel prompted Delta Air Lines on Thursday to demand that Congress reopen the government immediately. The airline warned that missing paychecks “only increases the stress on these essential workers, many of whom are already working mandatory overtime to keep our skies safe and secure.”

The crisis has only added salt to wounds that predated the shutdown for controllers: staffing shortages and long, grueling schedules.

This week, air traffic controllers with the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a labor union and aviation safety organization, demanded the end of the shutdown and handed out leaflets.

The group said air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals often work grueling schedules of six days a week and 10-hour days. Since the shutdown and in anticipation of missed paychecks, some have taken on second jobs to feed their families and pay bills.

Marlene Lenthang

Marlene Lenthang is a breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital.

Jay Blackman contributed.

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