AUSTIN (KXAN) — A congressman representing Austin slammed a ground delay that was in effect at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Sunday.
The FAA confirmed flights into AUS were slowed down on Sunday due to staffing. In a statement Monday afternoon, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Austin) criticized the "short notice" delay for impacting multiple flights traveling into Austin, with some lasting as long as two-and-a-half hours, he alleged.
“Yesterday, the FAA implemented another ground delay at Austin Bergstrom-International Airport (ABIA) on short notice, which affected numerous flights. Inbound flights on Sunday were delayed as much as two and a half hours. Travelers returning home and Central Texans meeting incoming passengers at the airport can expect more FAA-mandated delays during this busy holiday season. Best to check ahead as much as possible," Doggett said in a statement.
An FAA spokesperson did note the agency hired more than 1,800 air traffic controllers in 2024, hitting its targeted goal. More than 2,000 additional air traffic controllers are expected to be hired come 2025.
"We are accelerating air traffic controller hiring by moving to a year-round hiring track for experienced controllers from the military and private industry," the spokesperson added in an email.
At Austin's airport, the FAA said there are 33 certified professional controllers and six certified professional controllers in training employed, adding more trainees will join AUS between December and next spring.
"I, frankly, am not going to believe the promises until I see the personnel in the tower," Doggett said.
Doggett's email claimed the number of air traffic controllers working at AUS has decreased "as the tower struggles to keep staffing at even half the level recommended by the FAA."
"This is something I've been working on for over a year, and I must say that the situation today is worse than when I began working on it."
U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett
Ground delays result in impacts to airplanes' departure times and are enacted "when the projected traffic demand is expected to exceed the airport's acceptance rate," per the Federal Aviation Administration. Factors like poor weather, airline operation problems, technology hiccups, and operational issues from both federal agencies and airport operators can lead to air travel delays.
While a range of causes are behind ground delays, the FAA spokesperson said most are due to weather and travel volumes.
