At Bush Airport, security lines will be open only in Terminals A and E, and the airport is warning passengers that TSA wait times could exceed 1 hour.<\/p>\n
HOUSTON \u2014 The ongoing government shutdown will cause headaches for air travelers.<\/p>\n
The Houston Airport System announced on Saturday that security wait times will increase at Bush and Hobby airports.<\/p>\n
Security lines have been reduced as the TSA and air traffic controllers face staffing issues. Though both are considered essential workers, air traffic controllers have increasingly called out sick since the shutdown began.<\/p>\n
At Bush Airport, security lines will be open only in Terminals A and E, and the airport is warning passengers that TSA wait times could exceed 1 hour.<\/p>\n
Some travelers were forced to wait it out at Bush Airport on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an impact, we want to get home, it\u2019s tough, I don\u2019t like to wait, but we want to get home,\u201d James Barnes said.<\/p>\n
His flight from Houston to Orlando was delayed one hour on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel bad for the employees that are working for the TSA, it\u2019s not just here, it\u2019s everywhere. I feel bad for them and it puts everyone in a higher like stress mode,\u201d Barnes said.<\/p>\n
United Airlines travelers will have to check their bags in Terminal C, then go to Terminal E for security. The air travel impacts haven\u2019t hit everyone yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was surprised [that] we had no delays leaving or coming,\u201d Cindy and Rebekah Cuellar said.<\/p>\n
They returned home to Houston from their Las Vegas vacation. They are thinking of possible travel trouble ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re going to Finland for Christmas, we\u2019re concerned not only with just with the TSA, air traffic control, but with international travel in general, a little worrisome,\u201d Cuellar said.<\/p>\n
This week, transportation secretary Sean Duffy warned that Thanksgiving travel may be a “disaster” if the shutdown continues.<\/p>\n
People like Barnes are hoping it comes to an end.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel bad for not just TSA but all the federal employees, I feel bad for our country,\u201d Barnes said.<\/p>\n
The bottom line, while this shutdown continues, passengers are asked to arrive early and allow extra time for security screening until further notice at both Hobby and Bush Airports.<\/p>\n