Attributes Over 1,000 Delays To Staffing Reductions

The FAA released a statement late Tuesday concerning air traffic delays caused by reduced staffing that is the result of the agency's furlough program. As a result of employee furloughs due to sequestration, the FAA says it is implementing traffic management initiatives at airports and facilities around the country. Travelers can expect to see a wide range of delays that will change throughout the day depending on staffing and weather-related issues.

In the statement the agency says as an example, it is experiencing staffing "challenges" at the New York and Los Angeles En Route Centers and at the Dallas-Ft. Worth and Las Vegas TRACONs. Controllers will space planes farther apart so they can manage traffic with current staff, which will lead to delays at airports including DFW, Las Vegas and LAX. The FAA also expects delays at Newark and LaGuardia because of weather and winds.

The FAA will continue to work with the airlines throughout the day to try and minimize delays for travelers. The agency encourages all travelers to check their flight status and also to visit fly.faa.gov for the latest airport delay information.

"Yesterday (Monday) more than 1,200 delays in the system were attributable to staffing reductions resulting from the furlough. There were more than 1,400 additional delays as a result of weather and other factors," the statement said.

FMI: www.faa.gov