Washington, USA – Reuters reported that the US aviation sector has seen a rise in the number of absences among air traffic controllers in the United States in recent hours,
affecting about half of the major US airports.
Amid the ongoing partial government shutdown that is hitting the country
due to Congress’s failure to pass a temporary budget.
The agency reported on Sunday that dozens of air traffic controllers were absent from major airports,
Like New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and Los Angeles,
this led to significant delays in hundreds of flights.
Meanwhile, some airlines were forced to cancel domestic
and international flights due to a shortage of operational staff.
The crisis worsened
Sources at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explained – according to the agency –
that the crisis worsened with the continued suspension of government employee salaries.
Including security personnel and air traffic controllers,
This prompted some of them to be absent in protest against not receiving their financial dues.
The sources added that the impact of the government shutdown has
begun to extend to other vital sectors, such as customs, transportation and postal services.
While economic experts warned that if the situation continues for weeks,
it could lead to a slowdown in the US economy,
This negatively affects investor confidence and the travel and tourism market.
It threatens the safety of the air transport system
For its part, the US Department of Transportation called on Congress to take urgent action to end the shutdown.
Funding for government agencies to ensure the continuation of essential services.
She warned that any further delays could “threaten the safety of the country’s air transport system.”
This shutdown comes amid sharp disagreements between Democrats
and Republicans over the size of public spending and border policies.
This has left hundreds of thousands of government employees
without salaries since the start of the crisis.
