Atlanta sees ripple delays amid worsening air traffic controller shortages

ATLANTA - Flight delays continued Sunday at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport as the government shutdown reached day 32, with the Federal Aviation Administration citing ongoing staffing shortages at air traffic control centers across the country.

Atlanta airport delays Sunday

Local perspective:

An airport spokesperson said there are no staffing shortages at the FAA tower in Atlanta, but ripple effects from other cities have led to nearly 200 delays locally, most lasting less than an hour. According to FlightAware, Atlanta recorded 223 delays and seven cancellations by 5 p.m., more than half involving Delta Air Lines.

On Friday, the agency reported that nearly half of its core facilities were short-staffed, and nearly 80 percent of workers were absent at New York-area l