Staffing issues at US airports delay more than 4,000 flights

Some 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 transportation security admin officers must still turn up for work; they are not being paid due to govt shutdown

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US Federal Aviation Administration said staffing issues were causing delays at several airports including Newark and Denver on Monday, just hours after the top US transportation official said air traffic controllers calling in sick had risen slightly since the government shutdown began.

Some 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers must still turn up for work during the shutdown. They are not being paid and controllers are set to miss their first paycheque on October 14.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that at times, air traffic staffing has been cut by 50 per cent in some areas since the shutdown started last week.