The Orlando airport was nearly shut down due to staff shortages during the US government shutdown, but a last-minute arrangement by air traffic controllers averted the shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) planned to close Orlando to landings. According to the reports, airports in Orlando, Dallas/Fort Worth and Washington DC have seen a number of flight delays due to staffing shortages since the government shutdown on October 1 due to Republicans’ battle with Democrats over federal funding and health insurance subsidies. The FAA said in a statement that delays at these airports averaged more than two hours at Orlando, 90 minutes at Washington National Airport and 21 minutes at Dallas. New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport suspended departures for about 90 minutes after 8:00 p.m. local time due to a staff shortage. As of Thursday, Oct. 30, according to FlightAware data, nearly 6,000 flights were delayed and 1,100 canceled nationwide. About 20 percent of flights were affected at United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines, FlightAware said. Since the shutdown, more than 13,000 air traffic controllers have worked without their pay. Hundreds even took second jobs to survive the shutdown. President Nick Daniels of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said that number will rise as more controllers look for ways to pay bills. “It’s going to be 1,000 quickly,” Daniels said, calling on the government to end the fight. “We want the shutdown to end today … However it’s done, this is what the American people deserve.” ‘US shutdown could hamper travel during holiday season’: Vance Vice President JD Vance said a prolonged government shutdown would likely hamper travel during the busy holiday season as the administration seeks to increase pressure on Democrats over funding. He made the comments after meeting aviation industry leaders at the White House. The participants included United Airlines Holdings Inc. Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby, American Airlines Group Inc. included CEO Robert Isom, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and former Republican New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu, who is now CEO of the industry trade group Airlines for America. Vance told reporters “it could be a disaster” if the shutdown extends into the Thanksgiving travel season. (With agency input)