PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Flights leaving Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport are delayed due to staffing issues amid the ongoing government shutdown.
There is a staffing issue impacting the Albuquerque Air Route Traffic Control Center (ZAB), which is responsible for the airspace over much of Arizona and works with Phoenix TRACON, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Flights leaving Phoenix have an average of 45-minute delays, according to the FAA. As of 10:48 a.m., there were over 50 delayed flights at Sky Harbor, and TSA wait times were 10 minutes or less. Sky Harbor passengers can check their flight status here.
On Wednesday, Sky Harbor did not expect many short-term “visible impacts” due to the government shutdown, as all government employees were required to continue working without pay.
The FAA’s announcement coincided with the Associated Press reporting that the White House budget office had initiated mass firings of federal workers, intensifying pressure on Democratic lawmakers as we enter day 10 of the government shutdown.
It remains unclear if the reported firings are linked to staffing issues in the ZAB region.
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