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In recent developments, Austin–Bergstrom International Airport has experienced significant delays due to air traffic control (ATC) staffing issues. On May 21, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a ground delay at the airport, citing "staffing" as the reason. The FAA's National Airspace System Status page reported that the delay began around noon and extended past 20:00, with an average delay time of approximately 49 minutes.
According to KVUE ABC, more than 200 delays were recorded by afternoon, with some flights experiencing delays of up to seven hours and 45 minutes. KUT News highlighted that tower shifts typically require 14 controllers; however, on this occasion, only eight were managing air traffic.
This is not an isolated incident for Austin Airport. In March, flights from Dallas and Houston were temporarily halted due to FAA-imposed restrictions related to ATC staffing. During the busy holiday season in 2024, Austin was one of several airports affected by a shortage of air traffic controllers. At that time, reports indicated that the airport had 33 fully certified controllers compared to 35 in the previous year.
