Federal shutdown spurs Denver flight delays as rural air subsidies set to expire Sunday

Denver International Airport officials anticipate that more than 938,000 passengers will travel through airport checkpoints between Oct. 9 and Oct. 20, a 5.5% increase over the same time period in 2024.

Lawmakers, meanwhile, continue to disagree on funding the federal government, forcing air traffic controllers and other essential federal employees to work without pay.

More than 13,000 air traffic controllers are expected to continue working according to U.S. Department of Transportation documents. They are set to miss their first paycheck on Oct. 14.

At a press conference on Monday in Newark, N.J., Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed the Federal Aviation Administration is already seeing “a slight uptick” in controllers calling out sick since the federal shutdown began on Oct. 1.

Whenever the situation worsens and creates a shortage of controllers, the FAA restricts the number of takeoffs and landings to ensure controllers aren’t overwhelmed and the system remains safe. 

“Our priorities are safety, and so if we have additional sick calls, we will reduce the flow consistent with a rate that’s safe for the American people,” Duffy said. 

However, this creates delays and, in some cases, cancellations. 

The worst problems were in Burbank, Calif., where Gov. Gavin Newsom stated that no controllers were on duty during the evening, resulting in flight delays of 2 1/2 hours at that airport.

On Monday, FlightAware, a popular flight tracking app, reported that more than 4,000 flights in the U.S. airspace were delayed, including 29% of arriving flights at Denver. In some cases, the weather and airport surface construction may have also contributed to flight delays.

Denver Airport officials in a statement recommend that passengers check with their airlines for updates and arrive at the airport at least two hours before their scheduled boarding time.

Travelers at Newark Liberty International Airport, where Duffy held his news conference, said controllers should be paid for their work.

“Everyone should get paid for what they are doing. Of course it bothers me,” said Daniel Johansson from North Carolina.

A traveler from Utah, Nancy Taylor, agreed.

“Yeah, that would be hard to work for no pay,” Taylor said. “But I think they understand the importance of their job. And the safety that provides to us as travelers. They need to get paid.”

The Transportation Department has been able to keep the Air Traffic Controller Academy in Oklahoma City open for now with funding from previous years, but Duffy is still concerned about the potential impact on efforts to hire and train new controllers, in the hope of eliminating a longstanding shortage. 

Duffy said the support staff who train controllers after they graduate from the academy could be laid off.

Union extends a firm warning

Union officials have warned air traffic controllers that organized “sickouts” will not be tolerated. 

Sickouts are not official union actions, but rather the actions of individual controllers taking sick days to cope with stress and financial concerns.

“We must be clear, NATCA does not condone any coordinated activity that disrupts the National Airspace System or damages our reputation, “National Air Traffic Controllers Association Vice President Mick Devine said. “Such actions are illegal, risk your careers and destroy our ability to effectively advocate for you and your families.”

A statement on the NATCA website adds an additional warning, stating that participating in such activities is not only illegal but also “could result in removal from federal service.”

Potential loss of Essential Air Service

While larger airports will likely suffer delays as long as the shutdown lingers, some smaller Colorado airports could see a financial impact.

The Essential Air Service program is a federal initiative that subsidizes airline service to smaller, rural communities, ensuring access to the national transportation network and vital services such as medical care and economic opportunities.

“That money runs out this Sunday,” Duffy said. “So there’s many small communities across the country that will now no longer have the resources to make sure they have air service in their community.” 

According to DOT documents, three airports in Colorado receive EAS funding and use Denver-based Denver Air Connection to provide services: 

• San Luis Valley Regional Airport in Alamosa.
• Cortez Municipal Airport in Cortez.
• Pueblo Memorial Airport in Pueblo.

The subsidies incentivize airline carriers to operate routes that are economically viable for airlines to fly on thier own.

A Denver Air Connection spokesperson said the company plans to continue normal operations at all of its EAS stations, nationwide, “even if appropriated funding runs out.”

“Denver Air Connection wishes to assure all our partner communities and guests that we have no intention of suspending service or canceling flights,” stated Jon Coleman, the airline’s senior vice president for strategy and business development. “We understand how important these flights are for our passengers. For the foreseeable future, all DAC flights will operate as scheduled.”

Gred Pedroza, Pueblo Memorial Airport director of aviation lauded Denver Air Connection for their commitment to the local community, keeping residents and travelers connected to Denver International Airport.

“Denver Air Connections will still fly according to their press release, and they will do so at risk, which means, you know, they’re taking on they’re going to be doing it without the added subsidy,” Pedroza said.

Pedroza added that Transportation Security Administration agents, as well as the airport’s air traffic controllers, are still reporting to work amid the shutdown.

“For all of the all of the ‘whys’ in in the world where travel is necessary, keeping Pueblo connected serves that purpose, and Denver Air Connection is really stepping up and not letting the potential government shutdown continuation ruin their commitment to our community.”

Duffy said that while the long-standing EAS program enjoys bipartisan support and is “an important program, but we don’t have the money for that moving forward.” 

The Associated Press contributed to this story.