(The Center Square) – Charlotte Douglas International Airport, No. 7 in North America for passenger volume, had another 230 delays and 21 cancellations by midafternoon on Friday.
The major hub for American Airlines, operator of roughly 90% of the flights, on Thursday had 866 delays and 61 cancellations. The partial government shutdown that began at 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 31 impacted thousands of Transportation Security Administration personnel missing their first full paycheck on Friday.
On Wednesday, the week’s trend began to turn, according to tracking platform FlightAware. Total delays in or out of Charlotte/Douglas were 471 on Sunday, 249 on Monday and 154 on Tuesday but went up to 324 on Wednesday. Total cancellations in or out of the airport were 26 on Sunday, seven on Monday, six on Tuesday and seven on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the airport said on social media, “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. Real time security wait times can be found on our website and the CLT Airport App. 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.”
Charlotte Douglas International Airport needs about 100 air traffic controllers in roles of actively working, managing coordinators, or administrative. The exact number of TSA agents isn’t available publicly; the airport is home to more than 20,000 workers in various jobs.
At Raleigh-Durham International on Friday at midafternoon, delays totaled 81 and cancellations were at six.
Total delays in or out of Raleigh-Durham International Airport were 131 on Sunday, 61 on Monday, 53 on Tuesday, 126 Wednesday and 224 on Thursday. Total cancellations for RDU were eight on Sunday, three on Monday, one on Tuesday, 10 on Wednesday and 14 on Thursday.
Speaking of the shutdown, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said in part, “Threats are mounting and American families are suffering due to Democrats’ political games. Enough is enough – Democrats must end their shutdown.”
The top Democrat in the upper chamber disagrees.
On Thursday, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in part, “Democrats are ready to fund TSA. Republicans are blocking it. Democrats are ready to fund CISA. Republicans are blocking it. Democrats are ready to fund FEMA. And Coast Guard. Republicans are blocking it.”
CISA is the acronym for the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.
For context between the politicians’ polar opposite blame, Democrats have demands for reforms on immigration enforcement, a desire to separate agencies, 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.
