Flight Delays Begin as Air Traffic Staffing Shortages Worsen NYT | Top Stories Niraj Chokshi 7 October 2025 at 09:13 The delays came just hours after the transportation secretary warned that flying could be disrupted by the government shutdown. © David Zalubowski/Associated PressTravelers at Denver International Airport last week. On Monday afternoon, insufficient air traffic controller staffing caused arriving flights to be delayed about 40 minutes.