Delays have become the unwanted guest at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, largely due to staffing shortages attributed to the current government shutdown. On Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration acknowledged staffing problems at the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center, which oversees much of Arizona's airspace, including coordination with Phoenix TRACON, resulting in an average departure delay time from Sky Harbor of about 45 minutes in the morning, as reported by ABC15. The FAA added that the delay had decreased to an average of 15 minutes by the afternoon.
Despite efforts to manage the situation, the airport's delayed, canceled, and diverted flights information page showed a staggering count of over 120 delayed flights by 4:45 p.m. Travelers, while facing a zoo-like crowded airport, experienced TSA wait times of 10 minutes or less, an update likely to be cold comfort for those eager to reach their destinations. According to a statement obtained by AZFamily, safety protocols dictate that when there are not enough workers, air traffic is slowed to ensure the safety of travelers – a protocol which invariably contributes to delays.
The impacts of the staffing shortages are being felt on a personal level by many. Jordan Ellingson, waiting for his brother returning from a two-year stint as a missionary overseas, stated to AZFamily, "Have to just sit here and wait and the kids are kind of losing patience." Similarly, Sarah Umar and her son, who had been planning a trip for a hockey tournament, are now facing the inconvenience head-on as Sarah shared that her husband and other son had decided to cancel their trip due to the potential impact on their work schedules back home if delays hold them up.
Congress remains locked in a stalemate over funding bills, exacerbating the problem as air traffic controllers, deemed essential workers, continue working without pay. This situation ties into a recent development reported by the Associated Press, wherein the White House budget office allegedly began mass firings of federal employees, heightening tensions even as the shutdown lurches into its tenth day. The causal relationship between these firings and the shortages in the ZAB region has not been clarified. Meanwhile, flyers like ASU student Delanie Schupp are left to deal with the fallout, echoing the sentiment of many when she told AZFamily, "Hope I get there soon and safe. Just no more delays."
