An extra 2,300 US flights were cancelled on Monday as President Donald Trump warned that air traffic controllers who called in sick during the government shutdown could have their pay cut.
After Trump criticised absent aviation workers as unpatriotic, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) fired back, praising members who have been working without pay and calling them “unsung heroes.” The union urged Congress to end the shutdown immediately.
“Enough is enough,” the statement read.
The exchange shows how much pressure the aviation sector is now facing as the shutdown reached day 41. A compromise bill is moving through Congress, raising hopes that the stalemate may end this week.
Even before the shutdown, the air traffic control system was dealing with a staffing shortage. Now, with Thanksgiving travel approaching, the strain is far worse.
On Monday alone, 2,300 flights were cancelled and more than 8,700 were delayed, according to FlightAware. Airlines have already cancelled another 1,100 flights scheduled for Tuesday. The Trump administration recently ordered airports to cut flights by 10% due to staffing shortages.
Trump took to social media on Monday, insisting that controllers who don’t return to work “will be substantially ‘docked.’”
“All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!!” he posted on Truth Social.
He also said he would push for a $10,000 bonus for those he called “GREAT PATRIOTS” who never took time off.
Ironically, his comments were posted just as the union finished a press conference marking the second consecutive zero-dollar paycheck for controllers.
NATCA president Nick Daniels called the developing deal in Congress “a step in the right direction,” adding that controllers should not be used as political pawns.
In a later statement responding to Trump’s remarks, NATCA said controllers “deserve our praise.”
“These professionals have been working without pay for over 40 days,” the union said. “Many are working six-day weeks and ten-hour days despite not being compensated.”
Democratic congressman Rick Larsen slammed Trump’s comments, calling them “nuts.”
“The women and men working long hours in air traffic control towers deserve our thanks, not attacks on their patriotism,” he said.
During a later phone interview on Fox News, Trump doubled down on the bonuses but admitted he wasn’t sure where the money would come from.
“I don’t know. I’ll get it from someplace… I always get the money,” he said.
There’s growing optimism that the shutdown could end soon. Enough Democrats joined Republicans in the Senate on Monday to pass a bill funding the government through January.
Still, Daniels reminded everyone that after the 2019 shutdown, it took more than two months for all controllers to receive their back pay.
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“January 30 is around the corner,” he warned, referring to the next funding deadline.
At the press conference, Daniels was joined by Amy Lark, an air traffic controller from Virginia whose husband also works for the same agency. With both of them unpaid, her family is struggling.
“Yesterday, my kids asked how long we can stay in our house. Answering that was heartbreaking,” she said.
Travellers are also feeling the impact.
“It’s a little crazy this morning,” said Jack Nicks, who was trying to catch a flight from Miami International Airport. He said he triple-checked his flight details because his friends had already experienced multiple changes.
“It’s a little rough,” he added.
