Massive flight delays hit major US airports amid crowds and equipment issues

• e-mail

Major airports in the New York City area are experiencing delays due to volume, high winds and technical issues. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports an 86-minute ground delay at JFK Airport caused by wind, along with a 30-minute departure delay over equipment problems.

The advisory applies to arrivals until October 21 at 11:59pm ET, with maximum delays reaching nearly nine hours.

Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) is experiencing delays due to high volume and compacted demand.

The FAA alert noted the advisory applies to arrivals until October 21 at 9:59pm, with maximum delays reaching 105 minutes, but are currently averaging 47 minutes. 

The notice also warned that staffing after 7pm will be 'slightly reduced.'

Thousands of air traffic controllers and TSA agents have called out of work amid the government shutdown, leaving many flights understaffed and adding to the delays. 

The FAA said late Sunday that air traffic control staffing issues were delaying travel at airports in Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta and Newark as a government shutdown became the third-longest in history. 

Major airports in the New York City area are experiencing delays due to volume, high winds and equipment issues (STOCK) 

EWR's alert also noted that the delay applies only to flights that are departing from airports located within 1,000 nautical miles of the affected airport.

The FAA reported other US airports are experiencing issues on Monday, including Washington DC's Reagan National Airport (DCA).

The advisory cited high volume and compact demand causing maximum delays of 54 minutes, with an average delay of 20 minutes. 

Boston Logan International Airport (BOS) is averaging delays up to 71 minute due to runway construction.

It's not clear, however, if the delays are directly tied to the shutdown. The FAA has faced long-standing staffing challenges, and air traffic controllers routinely worked significant overtime even before the shutdown began.

According to Cirium, an aviation data analytics company, more than 82 percent of US flights departed on time during the first 17 days of the shutdown. 

Cirium noted that this level of on-time performance is considered average to above-average for the national airspace system.

The federal government shutdown threw airports into pandemonium two weeks ago, exposing deep flaws in the nation's air traffic control system.

Newark and JFK are experiencing delays, with wait times increasing as the night carries on

On October 7 alone, flight boards flashed over 6,000 delays, with cancellations piling up from Burbank to Boston.

Burbank's Hollywood Airport even closed its towers entirely on October 6, forcing diversions and two-hour waits.

Meanwhile facilities in Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston and DCA slashed operations or delayed flights by 90 minutes.

And Nashville imposed a full ground stop on incoming flights on October 8, forcing planes to circle or reroute.

Controllers are burning out under 10-hour, six-day workweeks and even taking part-time jobs to survive without pay.

The culprit was a 10 percent shortage of air traffic controllers, many unpaid and forced to work under grueling conditions.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed a 'slight tick-up in sick calls' by air traffic controllers for flight delays during the government shutdown.

Duffy stated that while many controllers are 'amazing patriots' who show up to work without pay, a small number of absences were causing significant disruption.

'If we see there are issues in the tower that are affecting controllers' ability to effectively control the airspace, we'll reduce the rate, and you'll see more delays or you might see a cancellation,' Duffy said.