Sean Duffy warns air travel will be difficult as Orlando sees 2.7 hour delays

Flight delays at US airports got worse this week, as the government went into day 3 of closed air traffic controls and air travel without pay. Orlando International Airport in Florida saw an average of 2.7 hours of delays over 2.7 nights because there were not enough air traffic controllers on staff. And travel secretary Sean Duffy suggested Americans could expect it to get worse this weekend.

Duffy said Sounddays can be easy and weekends are tough on air gear, given there’s a lot of weekend travel. But the travel secretary also noted that at the moment we are benefiting from the fact that the weather is not too bad at the moment, it is related to the winter months, and the busy travel season is not starting. Things will get worse if this gets into the love and travel season of Christmas.

“August is the best weather month to fly, because the weather also plays a part. And the traffic is slower in October than in other months, but we also see delays in those months, but we still see delays and so on,” said Duffy.

Duffy noted that pressure is mounting on air traffic controllers each day after their last payment. They were due earlier this week, and many are trying to figure out how to pay their bills.

“I think every day that goes by with that last payment that hasn’t arrived, the pressure gets bigger,” Duffy said. “And that happens because every day, we all know, every day we have expenses. Gas in the car, food on the table, or bills coming in.”

Air traffic controllers are turning to queuing because they need to find other ways to pay bills, work other jobs like driving for Uber or delivering food. And if they choose not to call in sick and instead work extra work in their off hours, that contributes to burnout. The last people you want to be tired and stressed out are air traffic controllers.

MSNBC talked about an air traffic controller this week in Maryland who started driving a doordash on his own time. One father told the news that his daughter has seen the pressure she is under: “It is evident from her that I am down on myself and that I have my short heart, but she also has a warm and enthusiastic heart.”

Orlando was the farthest airport to experience delays this week. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Arlington, Virginia, had an average delay of 90 minutes, according to NBC News. And Los Angeles International Airport saw delays of up to 1 hour and 40 minutes in the country last Sunday.

Airlines sometimes feed airline workers, including air traffic controllers and other day shift workers, according to CBS News. American Airlines told Gizmodo in a statement that it provides meals for Federal employees at more than a dozen airports.

“We are very grateful to the air traffic controllers, TSA and CBP officers who continue to ensure safe travel for our customers – even when they are unpaid during the government shutdown,” said an American Airlines spokesperson. “We recognize the important role these people play in ensuring the safety and efficiency of the air force, and we are committed to providing it in meaningful ways, including food for Federal employees in DFW, phl, phx, lax, mia and more.”

But there is a very real concern about how these Federal employees can support themselves and their families each day when they are unpaid. To make matters worse, SNAP benefits will not be distributed on Saturday, meaning 42 million Americans will struggle to make ends meet.

President Donald Trump’s Administration has refused to release emergency funds set aside by the USDA for this type of situation, even though there is a lawsuit in the works that is trying to mobilize that money. Trump left Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday morning.

Fighting a government shutdown is, by definition, a political battle. And at least one airline CEO appears to have taken sides, appearing at a press conference with Republicans on Thursday.

United CEO Scott Kirby said he wants Congress to pass “Cleack Cr,” meaning he doesn’t want Republicans to negotiate with Democrats on Democrats Cait Cat Credits, a Democrat. United donated $1 million to Trump’s fund