PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) -U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Friday that more flight delays may occur in the coming days as air traffic controllers are set to miss their first paycheck as a government shutdown enters its 24th day.
Duffy said the Federal Aviation Administration’s air traffic controller academy will in the coming weeks run out of money to pay air traffic control students.
About 6.6% of flights delayed Thursday were due to air traffic controller absences — slightly above the normal 5% — but much lower than the 53% seen on prior days during the shutdown, the Transportation Department said. Duffy said he was concerned as the holiday season approaches there is more flight travel and that could lead to more delays.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Leslie Adler)
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