(The Center Square) – More than 100 flights were canceled and another 1,200 delayed over the weekend at North America’s seventh busiest airport for passengers.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport, where 90% of flights are operated by American Airlines, needs hundreds of TSA workers for passenger, baggage and cargo areas. The Transportation Security Administration is within the Department of Homeland Security, and workers missed a full regular check for the first time over the weekend.
The three-day totals were 163 cancellations and 1,260 delays.
A statement to travelers last week said, “Due to the partial government shutdown, Transportation Security Administration staffing levels may affect security wait times at CLT in the coming days. Travelers are encouraged to arrive early and allow additional time to pass through security screening.
“We appreciate TSA and all our federal partners for their continued dedication and commitment to keeping the traveling public safe and helping passengers reach their destinations safely.”
The partial government shutdown began Feb. 14 after a Jan. 30 deadline was not met and an extension was given, impacting thousands of Transportation Security Administration personnel. TSA is part of the Department of Homeland Security, the 1/12th of the congressional budget yet to be funded.
For context between the politicians’ polar opposite blame, Democrats have demands for reforms on immigration enforcement, a desire to separate agencies within Homeland Security, and accountability. Republicans believe the department as constructed for cohesive consideration of national threats does not need changing, and the House of Representatives has already passed bipartisan funding that isn’t able to get past Senate Democrats.
Cancellations of flights Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively, were 41, 25 and 97. Delays of flights Friday, Saturday and Sunday, respectively, were 455, 317 and 488.
For weekday travels Monday through Friday of last week, Charlotte Douglas had 122 cancellations and 2,048 delays.
The airport’s roughly 100 air traffic controllers – active working, managing coordinators and administrative – are under the purview of the Federal Aviation Administration within the Department of Transportation. The DOT is funded.
Volume and misery numbers are less at Raleigh-Durham International in the Triangle and Piedmont Triad International in Greensboro.
At RDU, cancellations of flights Friday, Saturday and Sunday were 66 – 17 on Friday, eight Saturday and 41 on Sunday. Delays on Friday, Saturday and Sunday were 405 – 171 on Friday, 93 Saturday and 141 Sunday.
At Piedmont Triad, cancellations of flights Friday, Saturday and Sunday were 12 – four on Friday, three Saturday and five Sunday. Delays on Friday, Saturday and Sunday were 64 – 25 on Friday, 16 Saturday and 23 Sunday.
