Concerns of flight delays at Austin airport due to shortage of air traffic controllers

AUSTIN, Texas - There are concerns a shortage of air traffic controllers could lead to flight delays during the busy holiday travel season at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

With Christmas just one week away, officials at Austin’s airport provided an update on what passengers should expect.

While this year’s holiday period isn’t record-breaking, ABIA says its expecting around 30,000 people each day, beginning Friday, Dec. 20.

ABIA is anticipating the busiest days to be this Friday, Sunday and Monday. It’s estimated that around 150,000 travelers will come through the airport for the total travel period.

Because of such a high volume, some travelers are worried.

"Yeah, because it's the holiday season and it's very busy all the time in the hustle and bustle and everybody's trying to get somewhere quickly," said ABIA traveler Misty Brown.

"We can't do much about it. Everybody else is trying to do the same thing. We're trying to get to where we want to go," said ABIA traveler Evelyn Lockwood.

"I just assume there's going to be a little bit more than usual. So always try to get to the airport early so you can get there on time," said ABIA traveler Kate Goin.

Passengers headed to the ABIA can expect more congestion on the roadways leading to the airport, so give yourself plenty of time.

Airport officials recommend checking traffic updates before you leave.

"We just ask passengers to get here about 2.5 hours early if they're flying domestically or three hours, and they're flying internationally. So, they have enough time to get their bags checked," said Samantha Rojas, spokesperson for the airport.

Another potential concern for passengers is a shortage of air traffic controllers at ABIA.

Just weeks ago, the FAA confirmed a shortage of air traffic controllers caused a ground delay at the airport. ABIA says the FAA is in charge of staffing that part of the airport.

Congressman Lloyd Doggett has previously called the delays unacceptable. He sent FOX 7 this statement:

"During some periods of heavy holiday travel, the Federal Aviation Administration is requiring delays on some flights coming into Austin. You can check the ‘Flight Delay Information’ section of the FAA’s website to monitor such delays and avoid long waits at the airport. These delays are caused by the failure of the FAA to respond to my repeated efforts to obtain an adequate number of air traffic controllers. We now have less than 50% of the air traffic controllers the FAA has recommended. While I am certainly concerned about the inconvenience to so many during the holidays, my top concern remains getting the staff our airport tower needs to assure safety for all."

The FAA previously told FOX 7 it has met its hiring goal the past two years.

The FAA also said its accelerating its hiring process by moving to a year-round hiring track for experienced controllers, providing programs that will allow for immediate facility training upon graduation, quicker training processes, and outreach to high school students.

FOX 7 reached out to the FAA for an update on staffing but has not heard back.