Staffing shortages also created delays at Newark and Denver airports, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs our airspace unsafe? No, but if we think there\u2019s issues with the airspace, we will shut it down \u2013 we will close it down, we will delay,\u201d Duffy said.<\/p>\n
An FAA spokesperson confirmed \u201cincreased staffing shortages across the system\u201d to KQED. In this event, \u201cthe FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations.\u201d<\/p>\n During the last government shutdown in 2018 and 2019, air traffic controllers calling in sick <\/a>caused widespread flight delays and cancellations<\/a>.<\/p>\n This hasn\u2019t played out in major Bay Area airports yet. A spokesperson for San Francisco International Airport said it hadn\u2019t \u201creceived any such reports locally\u201d when it came to staffing issues, and an Oakland San Francisco Bay Airport spokesperson told KQED the airport didn\u2019t expect \u201cany screening or air traffic control services to be interrupted\u201d due to the shutdown. At San Jos\u00e9 Mineta International Airport, \u201cit\u2019s business as usual,\u201d a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n Keep reading for how to make sure you\u2019re aware of any flight delays that might affect your upcoming journey \u2014 at either your point of departure or your destination \u2014 during the government shutdown.<\/p>\n The FAA\u2019s National Airspace System Status<\/a> site allows passengers to see \u201cactive airport events\u201d that might affect their flight \u2014 including staffing issues and weather.<\/p>\n The tool only uses three-letter airport codes, so make sure you know the code for the airport you\u2019re departing and arriving from (i.e., \u201cSFO\u201d for San Francisco International Airport).<\/p>\n You can also use the FAA\u2019s map view<\/a> of affected airports.<\/p>\n If you haven\u2019t already, sign up for email or text alerts direct from your airline so you\u2019re informed about possible delays or cancellations as soon as possible.<\/p>\n You can also check the status of your flight on each airport\u2019s website. In the Bay Area, use:<\/p>\n Googling your flight number \u2014 for example, \u201cUA246\u201d for United flight 246 \u2014 will also show you a live flight tracker, using data from flight data company OAG<\/a>.<\/p>\n TSA employees are federal workers who, like air traffic controllers, are generally working without pay through the shutdown. A TSA spokesperson told KQED last week that around 61,000 of the agency\u2019s 64,000 employees are considered essential, \u201cand TSA will continue operations to keep the traveling public safe\u201d \u2014 with the agency\u2019s remaining employees temporarily furloughed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.kqed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/09\/240412-OAKAirport-027-BL_qed.jpg\")
Check your airport with the FAA\u2019s National Airspace System Status tool<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/cdn.kqed.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/07\/DeltaSFOGetty.jpg\")
Keep a watchful eye on your flight\u2019s status<\/h2>\n
Check live TSA wait times (where you can)<\/h2>\n