On the fourth day of sequester cuts to the ranks of air traffic controllers, airports across the country continue to be hard hit by delays
caused by a shortage of controllers -- and severe weather.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which began Sunday to furlough about 10% of
its air traffic controllers, warned that staff shortages will mean delays at
airports in Miami, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Tampa.
Jennifer Fogg, a construction contractor from Oklahoma City, was fuming
Wednesday at Los Angeles International Airport after her morning flight for a
business meeting in Mississippi was canceled. United Airlines told her it was
because air traffic controllers were furloughed.
"Not getting me to where I need to go doesn't help the economy," she said.
The FAA said it was forced on Tuesday to delay more than 1,025 flights, with an
additional 975 flights delayed by severe weather and other factors.
On Monday, the FAA said it delayed about 1,200 flights because of staff
shortages, with only 400 delays attributed to staff shortages Sunday.
On a typical day, the nation's airports report about 5,800 to 6,000 flights that
are delayed more than 15 minutes.
To monitor airport delays across the country, visit the FAA website.
In Washington, FAA Chief Michael Huerta defended his decision to furlough about
10% of U.S. air traffic controllers, telling lawmakers he had no choice under
government-wide cuts.
"It will have no effect on safety, but what will suffer is efficiency," he told
members of the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees the FAA's budget.
