PITTSTON TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — As we approach the ninth day of the government shutdown, many federal employees are dealing with furlough, backpay, and even layoffs. That includes some people working for agencies like the FAA and TSA.
28/22 News Reporter Avery Nape visited the Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport to find out how the shutdown is impacting travel for passengers.
While major airports like Denver and Chicago's O'Hare have reported disruptions and delays this week, passengers we spoke with coming from both airports say they've seen worse.
Travelers nationwide have reported frequent delays as we're in the second week of the government shutdown.
Tuesday night, the FAA issued a ground delay due to a shortage of air traffic controllers at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago.
25 flights were delayed, but no delays were reported as of Wednesday.
Travelers 28/22 News spoke with travelers coming from O'Hare, breathing a sigh of relief.
"It has been absolutely smooth, we checked in in Decatur, transferred to O'Hare, waited there, and got right on our flight here. So no delays, no problems," Heather Stoa from Illinois said.
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"I didn't run into one bit of trouble; in fact, the two flights that I took to get here all came in early," Colorado resident Mike Cerwinka explained.
Not all travelers were as lucky. Denver International Airport saw delays, also because of a shortage of air traffic controllers, according to the FAA.
Fortunately for Mike Cerwinka, he made it in record time, arriving from Colorado.
"I got through Denver from the time my wife dropped me off, until the time I was sitting at my gate, was 29 minutes. It's the fastest I've ever gotten through Denver in my life," Cerwinka added.
It's no doubt major airports are facing delays and issues with staffing.
The FAA says this week they've seen an increase in sick calls as essential employees like air traffic controllers are forced to work without pay.
While these travelers may have gotten lucky, and flights to and from smaller airports like Avoca may not be affected as much.
One woman 28/22 News spoke with had a word of advice as she raced to catch her departing flight.
"People should just get to the airport on time and not get too stressed about it, I mean, I think there have been worse delays with weather, and fires, and storms, than with this," Judi Weiss from Lords Valley, Pike County, told 28/22 News.
As the Senate's vote on two short-term funding measures failed again on Wednesday for the sixth time, there doesn't seem to be any end to the shutdown in sight.
