Talks to end U.S. shutdown take shape as urgency mounts

Air Traffic Controllers Warn of 'Unprecedented' Safety Risk As Government Shutdown Continues

To track flights, here's the flight delay map from the Air Traffic Control System Command Center on the FAA website.

Staff shortages also delayed flights at Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport, the FAA said.

The White House says President Trump had been briefed on the situation and was in regular contact with officials at the Department of Transportation and the FAA.

The statement added that staffing at air traffic control facilities is now at a 30-year low. "As with severe storms, we will adjust operations to a safe rate to match available controller resources".

As of Friday morning, the staffing issues are occurring at the Washington ARTCC (Air Route Traffic Control Center) and at the Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center, both of which are facilities that control aircraft while they're flying at high altitudes between airports. Martin said safety is being maintained during a period of "minimal impacts" on travel. "We're already short-staffed and so now when you've added this stress to air traffic controllers and their personal circumstances ... we're concerned that they're not fit for duty".

The FAA's announcement comes on day 35 of the USA partial government shutdown, which has now become the longest in the country's history.

This is breaking story, check back for updates.

Trump says the two sides have reached a deal on a so-called continuing resolution, which would ensure the government has the money to continue operating until February 15, and that workers will receive back pay as soon as possible.

Since airline workers are considered essential, they will continue to work without pay until the shutdown can end.

More news: Defense Department Releases Names Of Three U.S. Casualties In Syria Attack

"Our crew members and customers are likely to face extended security lines, flight delays, and even cancellations", Hayes said.

FAA officials were working Friday to mitigate the staff shortage, they said.

The longest in USA history, the 35-day US federal government partial shutdown left thousands of air traffic controllers, transportation security officers, safety inspectors, air marshals, and other essential workers on the job without pay for more than a month.

TSA reports many workers can no longer handle the financial hardship of working without pay as the partial government shutdown drags on; Laura Ingle reports.

These numbers include air traffic controllers, as well as U.S. airport security screening staff.

Pittsburgh International Airport says that so far three outbound flights, and four inbound flights have been delayed due to the staffing issues in LaGuardia. The airports with the longest average wait times were Atlanta with 42 minutes and Baltimore at 37 minutes.

"We are at a 30-year low of fully certified air traffic controllers and as we have warned for several years, the efficiency of the system will be constrained when there is inadequate staffing to ensure the safety of all flights". The move, which requires agreements in the Senate and Congress, could mean the 800,000 government workers will begin receiving paycheques.

"There are locations where FAA engineers have quit, TSA agents have quit, air traffic controllers have quit".

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