Lack of air traffic controllers affects almost half of major US airports

Nearly 50 per cent of the 30 busiest US airports are grappling with shortages of air traffic controllers, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Oct 31, leading to flight delays nationwide as a federal government shutdown hit its 31st day.

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The absence of controllers is by far the most widespread since the shutdown began, with one of the worst-hit regions being New York, where 80 per cent of air traffic controllers were out, the regulator said.

It caused delays at airports in Austin, Newark and Nashville as air traffic control staffing problems snarled flights.

At least nine FAA facilities reported staffing problems earlier in the day, with the regulator saying it was likely to delay flights later at airports in the Houston and Dallas area.

Flight delays were averaging 61 minutes at Nashville, 50 minutes at Austin and 101 minutes at Newark.