ORLANDO, Fla. – Despite no end in sight for the government shutdown, flights continue to take off nationwide.
However, some delays have increased in parts of the U.S. as air traffic controllers, TSA officers, and other employees work without pay.
While it is a busy scene at Orlando International Airport, travelers seem to be experiencing normal operations.
“We were expecting a lot, but there wasn’t really much to deal with,” Ryan Overstreet said of his experience at the airport during the shutdown.
Shakira Black, another traveler flying into Orlando, also had a traditional airport experience.
“It was a smooth process. There weren’t any delays, and the line was probably ten, 15 minutes,” she said.
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Past shutdowns have led to a spike in TSA officers and air traffic controllers calling out sick, contributing to delays and cancellations.
News 6 spoke with airport officials who said operations are running normally despite the shutdown. Still, travelers reported taking extra precautions before arriving at Orlando International.
“We got here about another two hours earlier than we were supposed to,” Overstreet said.
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The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority (GOAA) said it does not anticipate operations at MCO will be affected by the shutdown.
“…we have developed contingency plans should there be a dramatic decrease in the number of TSA agents processing passengers. We are in conversations with local TSA, CBP, and FAA agencies and hope there will be a resolution soon,” GOAA said in a statement.
Meanwhile, air traffic controllers at other airports distributed flyers this week warning that the shutdown is putting pressure on staffing and safety. Controllers, who are federal employees, are legally barred from walking off the job but can call in sick. If could cause backed-up runways and rescheduled flights, a reality many travelers have prepared for.
“It’s my birthday. It’s been playing since May, and with the government shutdown, I anticipated maybe even the flight not happening or being delayed,” Black explained.
An extended shutdown could mean longer wait times at TSA checkpoints. Orlando International offers a website and app that shows security wait times, and flyers are encouraged to use it and arrive early to avoid issues.
For more information, click here.
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