WASHINGTON – A week into the government shutdown, staffing shortages among air traffic controllers have begun to hit travelers, though airlines and federal officials say the impact has been relatively small so far.

At Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport – a hub for American Airlines and a base for Southwest Airlines – more than 100 flights were delayed by late afternoon Tuesday, according to data from FlightAware.

Despite five flights canceled by midday and dozens already delayed, airport spokesman Greg Roybal downplayed the disruption, saying the airport “does not anticipate many visible impacts to operations in the short term.”

Air traffic controllers are working without pay during the shutdown – 13,294 of them, according to the Department of Transportation. Transportation Secr

See Full Page