Flight delays rise nationwide as shutdown strains air traffic control

A surge of flight delays and some cancellations across the United States over the weekend and into Monday reflected growing strain on the aviation system as a federal government shutdown entered its third week, officials and flight trackers said. The Federal Aviation Administration warned that air traffic control staffing shortages have forced delays at major hubs including Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Newark and other cities, and flight-tracking services reported thousands of delayed flights over the two days.

FlightAware reported roughly 7,900 delays on Sunday and more than 4,500 additional delays by Monday, while an early Monday update from the same tracker showed about 2,041 flights delayed and 35 cancellations. The FAA said staffing triggers had been issued for evening shifts at several airports and that absences could also affect operations in Las Vegas, Phoenix and Philadelphia. Weather, volume and equipment problems contributed to localized advisories, with John F. Kennedy International Airport reporting lengthy ground delays tied to high winds and Newark reporting delays tied to high volume.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA officials have attributed a large...