‘Going to Get Worse’: CNN Aviation Expert Sounds the Alarm Over Shutdown Staffing Shortage

CNN aviation correspondent Pete Muntean warned your next trip to the airport could be even more frustrating than usual thanks to the air traffic controllers not getting paid during the ongoing government shutdown.

Muntean, during an appearance on The Situation Room on Monday morning, said the government shutdown has spurred a nationwide shortage of aviation personnel that has led to a surge in flight delays. And now that air traffic controllers are set to miss their first paychecks since the shutdown started, Muntean said things could get even more bogged down.

“I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: this is likely going to get worse before it gets better,” Muntean said. “Controllers got that paystub in their emails [today] of what will be the zero-dollar paycheck that comes tomorrow.”

Co-host Wolf Blitzer chimed in by noting flight delays often lead to flight cancellations. Muntean agreed and said delays could “tumble out of control and cascade into cancellations” this week.

Muntean, earlier in his segment, reported 50 air traffic control facilities were short staffed over the weekend — which is about 1 out of every 6 facilities nationwide. He also said that, according to CNN’s count, there have been 260 FAA “staffing triggers” — or shortages — since the start of the shutdown, which is up 300% from the same time period a year ago.

He said many travelers have already felt the pain as a result, including at LAX, where a quarter of all flights were delayed on Sunday.

“All it takes is for one or two controllers — just a handful that we’re talking about — to call out sick at one facility to lead to this inordinate, outsized impact,” Muntean said. “And that’s what travelers are experiencing now.”

Co-host Pamela Brown said, towards the end of Muntean’s segment, that her thoughts are with the air traffic controllers during this difficult, paycheck-less time.

“I just think about those air traffic controllers too, they’re already squeezed, right?” Brown said. “There’s not enough of them, their jobs are very stressful, and now they’re not getting paychecks.”

The government shutdown is now on its 27th day; House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) did not sound optimistic a deal was imminent on Monday, saying at a press conference the situation was being evaluated “day by day.” 

Watch above via CNN.

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