Daily Charlotte flight delays in the hundreds now as government shutdown drags on

Amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, daily flight delays in Charlotte have soared above 100 this week, as a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers disrupts airport operations across the country.

From Monday through mid-day Thursday, Charlotte Douglas International Airport had more than 600 flight delays and four flights canceled, according to FlightAware, which provides real-time online flight information.

FlightAware data counted 261 delays on Monday, 133 on Tuesday, and more than 130 on Wednesday. By around 1 p.m. Thursday, about 100 flights had been delayed at CLT.

However, Charlotte airport officials said they are not anticipating any immediate impact to its operations, according to a Thursday, Oct. 9, statement sent to The Charlotte Observer. The airport said it did not have information for comparison of delayed or canceled flights from before the shutdown.

The shutdown started on Oct. 1, and led to a shortage of controllers, triggering delays at major airports serving large regions such as Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix and New York, according to multiple news reports.

Federal agencies limited in response

Sections of the U.S. Department of Transportation, which oversees the Federal Aviation Administration, are closed or have employees on furlough because of a funding lapse.

When reached by The Charlotte Observer on Thursday, FAA public affairs officials said they are out of the office as a result of the shutdown and will have limited ability to respond.

Union warns against ‘job action’

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said it does not support federal employees who participate in or promote activities that harm the airspace system or the reputation of air traffic workers, according to a message on the union’s website.

“Air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals take their responsibility to protect the safety of the flying public very seriously,” the organization stated. “Participating in a job action could result in removal from federal service. It is not only illegal, but it also undermines NATCA’s credibility and severely weakens our ability to effectively advocate for you and your families.”

NATCA represents about 20,000 U.S. air traffic controllers and aviation safety experts. The union is based in Washington, D.C., and is part of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations.

CLT issues passenger guidance

CLT officials are continuing to monitor the situation and communicating with federal partners, Charlotte Douglas officals said Thursday.

The airport urges passengers to be inside the terminals two hours before a domestic flight and three hours before an international flight. Charlotte airport officials added that passengers should contact their airline directly for flight updates.

Charlotte Douglas is the sixth-busiest airport in the world for takeoffs and landings. American Airlines is the dominant carrier at CLT, accounting for about 90% of the traffic.

An airline spokesperson was not immediately available to comment about the delays.