Government shutdown enters day 34, raising anxiety for holiday travelers

SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The federal government shutdown is now in its 34th day, and its effects are rippling through airports nationwide. Travelers are being warned to brace for more flight delays and cancelations as staffing shortages continue to strain the air travel system.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is cautioning that some flights could be delayed, or even canceled, if weather or technical issues pose a safety risk. His comments come as San Diego International Airport has already seen its share of disruptions in recent days.

With Thanksgiving just weeks away, travel demand is climbing fast.

“Last year was a big year, we saw five percent more travelers than the previous year,” said Fernando Alcala with the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, adding that the airport approached half a million travelers over the Thanksgiving weekend last year, with the busiest days being the Tuesday and Wednesday before Thanksgiving, as well as the following Saturday and Sunday.

But this year, the government shutdown has added a layer of uncertainty. Some travelers say the combination of staffing shortages and technical issues has made them rethink their plans.

“Yes, there were delays, one was a mechanical issue, the other was air traffic control related,” one traveler said.

Over the weekend, Duffy warned that delays will likely worsen the longer the shutdown continues. He added that flights could be grounded entirely if safety becomes an issue.

“Hopefully the government can get back to work and focus on helping one another,” another traveler told FOX 5/KUSI.

According to the San Diego International Airport’s flight status page, hundreds of flights were affected this past weekend due to tower staffing issues.

“The operations are at times being affected by the government shutdown,” Alcala said. “But the good news is, we are not feeling any effects right now and are back to normal operations as of today.”