ATLANTA — Air travel disruptions continued Tuesday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as staffing shortages at TSA checkpoints worsen delays.
Airport General Manager Ricky Smith says the airport is seeing a 36% call-out rate among TSA workers, contributing to long lines and flight disruptions.
The airport has reported over 200 canceled flights as of Tuesday morning, with more than 340 additional flights delayed. At the same time, long lines continue at TSA checkpoints due to staffing shortages tied to the partial government shutdown.
“TSA sick calls have more than tripled during the shutdown nationally just as the nation’s airlines expect a record 171 million flyers for spring break,” said correspondent Kris Van Cleave.
Waits of more than 100 minutes were reported at the main checkpoint and about 70 minutes at the north checkpoint earlier on Tuesday. As of 6:20 p.m., wait times have decreased to 15 minutes at the main checkpoint.
Local TSA union president Aaron Barker said workers are feeling the strain as the partial government shutdown continues.
“TSA employees did not cause this shutdown, yet they are bearing the burden of congressional inaction,” Barker said. He noted that some TSA agents have missed two paychecks and are dealing with financial hardships including evictions, repossessions, and empty bank accounts.
“Unlike other federal agencies, such as ICE and CBT, TSA are working without pay. Many are coping with eviction notices, vehicle repossession, empty refrigerators, overdrawn bank accounts,” Barker said. He added that some agents have taken second jobs and is calling on Congress to act so agents can be paid and travelers can remain safe.
Georgia Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff says he will continue to push for funding for the Transportation Security Administration.
“There’s no reason that we shouldn’t be able to fund the rest of those agencies including TSA in the meantime,” Ossoff said.
While severe weather remains a factor, officials say staffing shortages tied to the shutdown are also contributing to delays.
“The vast majority of TSA workers are on the job, but those sick calls are growing by the day and some simply can’t afford to come to work. The disruptions are spotty but are becoming more common, and now some airports are urging flyers to arrive three to four hours before their flights,” Van Cleave said.
Airports are preparing for record spring break and Easter travel, with an estimated 171 million travelers expected in the coming weeks.
Officials are encouraging travelers to check with their airlines before heading to the airport and to plan for extra time.
On Tuesday morning, Delta Air Lines requested a ground stop from the FAA as the airline worked through a backlog of flights caused by weather in Atlanta and across the country. The ground stop has since been lifted. United Airlines also initiated ground stops Monday in Atlanta and Houston.
