Miami International Airport (MIA) joins the list of U.S. airports affected by staffing issues facing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) due to the government shutdown. The situation is causing delays in domestic and international flights, increasing pressure on one of the country's busiest airports and the main gateway to Latin America and the United States.
According to FAA reports, the air traffic controller shortage has spread to several airports, including Miami, Newark, and Denver, as well as Hollywood Burbank in Los Angeles, where the control tower was unmanned for several hours.
Authorities attribute this situation to the increase in sick leave among controllers, who have been working without pay since the start of the government shutdown.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that the FAA is closely monitoring the increase in absences, calling it “slight but concerning.”cupbefore”.
However, he warned that if the trend continues, further delays could occur at key airports like Miami, where air traffic exceeds 1,000 flights daily.
“Our priority is safety, and if staffing is reduced, we will reduce traffic flow to ensure safe operations,” explained Duffy
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATA) union warned that the government shutdown is exacerbating a pre-existing crisis: a lack of trained controllers.
Even before the shutdown, the system was already operating with fewer staff than necessary, making the airline industry particularly vulnerable to disruptions.
In Miami, passengers have reported longer wait times at takeoffs and arrivals. Although the airport remains open, the FAA has reduced traffic flow to maintain safety.
If the closure continues, experts anticipate that delays could increase, particularly affecting international connections to the Caribbean and South America.