Washington, October 28 (QNA) - Air travel disruptions in the United States worsened as the federal government shutdown entered its 27th day, with approximately 7,000 flights delayed nationwide on Monday due to the increasing absence of air traffic controllers.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a staffing shortage, necessitating ground delay programs that impacted airports.

Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers are forced to work without pay after a budget deadlock between Republican President Donald Trump and Democrats in Congress, leading to the government shutdown.

A US Department of Transportation official said that 44% of the delays were due to the absence of air traffic controllers, a sharp increase from the usual 5%.

The increasing delays and cancellations are exacerbating public frustration and intensifying scrutiny of the impact of the government shutdown, increasing pressure on lawmakers to find a solution to the crisis.

The FAA is short of about 3,500 air traffic controllers, many of whom were working mandatory overtime and six-day work weeks even before the shutdown.

During the 35-day shutdown in 2019, the number of air traffic controllers and TSA officers absent due to unpaid wages increased, leading to longer wait times at some airport checkpoints and slower air travel. (QNA)