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Travelers at airports across Texas are facing fresh headaches as the government shutdown will affect flights for several hours Monday night. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced new ground delays at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, and Dallas Love Field. The delays are set to last until at least 9pm ET, potentially affecting hundreds of flights at the three airports. Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) is one of the nation's busiest airports, serving approximately 1,800 flights and connecting over 200 domestic and international destinations. The ground delay at the major travel hub is set to begin at 6pm and will last until at least 10pm. The delays are the latest slowdowns throughout the US as the Department of Transportation deals with a shortage of air traffic control staff during the ongoing government shutdown. Staffing shortages have been growing since the shutdown began on October 1. More than 13,000 air traffic controllers have been required to work without pay. This is a developing story. More details to follow. On Friday, over 6,200 flights into or out of the US were delayed due to ground stops scattered throughout the country. Another 493 US flights were cancelled that day, with most of the trouble centered in the New York area. Currently, delays at Dallas Love Field have hit travelers the hardest, with wait times growing to an hour and 14 minutes. The ground delay at the smallest of the three Texas airports began at 3.33pm and is scheduled last until 11pm.
