Travelers at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport faced widespread delays Tuesday after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground delay advisory due to ongoing staffing shortages.
The advisory, issued mid-morning, reported average delays of nearly an hour, with Sky Harbor’s website listing about 100 delayed departures and flight-tracking site FlightAware showing close to 150 total delays affecting arrivals and departures.
Airport officials urged travelers to check their flight status before heading to the airport and allow extra time for security screening. Sky Harbor also provides real-time wait time updates on its website.
The FAA said the federal government shutdown continues to affect staffing across key aviation roles, including the nation’s 13,000 air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for weeks.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned last week that disruptions could persist if funding is not restored soon. The FAA reiterated that while it will never compromise safety, reduced staffing levels may force slower traffic flow — leading to delays and potential cancellations at major airports nationwide.
