Despite ongoing air traffic control staffing challenges delaying flights at numerous US airports due to the government shutdown starting October 1, flights between the UAE and US remain unaffected.
Representatives from UAE-based airlines Etihad and Emirates confirmed to Khaleej Times on Wednesday that their flight schedules “remain unaffected.”
Flight tracking data shows over 3,000 flights have been delayed, with staffing shortages impacting an increasing number of airports such as Houston, Nashville, Dallas, Chicago O’Hare, and Newark, per Reuters.
Stay informed with the latest updates. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has reportedly limited the number of incoming flights per hour at Chicago O’Hare, citing staffing issues, with average delays of 41 minutes. Staffing challenges are also reported at Atlanta Air Route Traffic Control Centre.
According to FlightAware, a flight tracking website, over 3,000 US flights have been delayed, including 225 at Nashville, representing 20% of its flights, and over 570 flights at Chicago O’Hare, over 20% of its flights.
During the previous 35-day US government shutdown in 2019, absences among controllers and TSA officers increased as workers missed paychecks, leading to delays at some airport checkpoints.
Cybersecurity Concerns
Meanwhile, Dubai-based cybersecurity expert Rayad Kamal Ayub warned that “the US government shutdown could pose cybersecurity risks.”
Ayub told Khaleej Times, “During the shutdown, reduced staffing and resources can leave critical systems under-monitored and maintained, potentially heightening vulnerabilities. Cybersecurity operations might also be affected, making threat or breach responses less efficient.”
“With fewer resources for cybersecurity, agencies might struggle to manage ongoing security challenges or updates, risking exposure of sensitive data and systems to attacks. Overall, a government shutdown could create a more cyber-threat-prone environment,” he elaborated.
