(The Center Square) – Cancellations and delays at North America’s seventh busiest airport were down 90.7% and 35.5%, respectively, for the Friday-Saturday-Sunday weekend compared to the one before, analysis by The Center Square shows.
The spike March 13-15 at Charlotte Douglas International Airport coincided with the first full paycheck missed by TSA workers. Numbers were also down at North Carolina’s other two primary outlets in the Triangle and Triad.
Nationwide, about 1 in 10 TSA workers have been absent daily for roughly two weeks.
Amid reports U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were being sent to airports to help Transportation Security Administration personnel, Queen City media outlets on Monday morning were told by Charlotte Douglas officials they are “not aware” of ICE coming to the airport to help TSA.
Charlotte Douglas over the weekend had 15 cancellations and 813 delays, according to the platform FlightAware that tracks such data. The previous weekend, the totals were 163 and 1,260, respectively – drops of 90.7% and 35.5%.
Numbers were similar at Raleigh-Durham International and Piedmont Triad International.
At RDU, this weekend’s cancellations and delays were 10 and 261, respectively. That’s down 84.8% and 35.6% from the previous weekend’s 66 and 405.
At PTI, this weekend had just three cancellations and 35 delays. Last weekend, it was 12 and 64, respectively, declines of 75% and 45.3%.
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.
In a social media post during the weekend, Charlotte Douglas wrote, “TSA remains essential to safe and efficient travel at CLT, helping passengers stay on track while upholding the airport’s safety culture. As officers continue reporting to work without base pay during the ongoing government shutdown, CLT is organizing a gift card donation drive to support them.
“If you’d like to help, grocery and gas gift cards are being accepted in accordance with federal guidelines. Whether you’re traveling through the airport or looking to support from the community, there are options available.”
