ORLANDO, Fla. – Flight delays and cancellations lingered Friday morning at Orlando International Airport due to an issue with staffing air traffic controllers, but the Federal Aviation Administration said things were returning to normal.
On average, flights on Thursday ran about three hours behind at MCO, with some delayed by as many as 12 hours.
An advisory released Thursday on the Federal Aviation Administration website showed a ground delay was in place for several airports, including MCO.
The advisory, which was issued by the Air Traffic Control System Command Center, said “users can expect a period of time later in the evening when no arrivals will be able to land as there will be no certified air traffic controllers available (Thursday night) at MCO.
The FAA on Friday said the issue causing the delays was over, and MCO was not listed to experience any other problems.
Jordan Read, who drove with his family from Charleston, Virginia, to catch a flight to Puerto Rico for their Disney cruise, said the experience has been frustrating.
“I think the biggest thing is just frustration. The cruise is something that will leave with or without you,” Read said.
The delays are also affecting local travelers like Julia, an Orlando resident, who is trying to make it to a friend’s wedding in Wisconsin this weekend.
“It’s a little inconvenient,” Julia said. “A lot of flights happen to be delayed, and it’s not just a little bit — it’s an hour and a half.” She said the situation goes beyond inconvenience. “It’s not just the fact that it’s affecting those employees; it’s affecting us too, and it’s a huge chain reaction.”
Several travelers, including Read, say they feel left in the dark — especially after seeing a statement on the airport’s website suggesting Orlando International wouldn’t be impacted by the shutdown.
The best thing to do if you are heading to MCO to catch a flight is to check with your airline about your flight’s status.
[WATCH: Orlando TSA agents, air traffic controllers left waiting on paychecks amid government shutdown]
News 6 reached out Thursday night to MCO officials to get more details. In a statement, an airport spokesperson said:
“The FAA has issued a ground delay for Orlando International Airport due to FAA staffing issues. The ground delay program has reduced the rate of arrivals at the airport and passengers may experience delays on average of 2 1/2 hours.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with your airline for individual flight information. We appreciate your patience during this busy travel period.”
Orlando International Airport public information officer
The advisory comes as air traffic controllers and other federal aviation staff continue to work without pay because of the federal government shutdown, in its 31st day as of Friday, Oct. 31.
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