ORLANDO, Fla. – With the federal government officially entering a shutdown, travelers are expressing concerns about the effect it will have at Central Florida airports.
On Wednesday, those arriving at Orlando International Airport said they were worried about possible delays for their return flight home.
“Anything can happen. Getting stuck here, cancelled flights,” Sue Ellen Bullock said. “I’ve had this trip planned for six months and then to have this come out the night before we leave. It’s really annoying.”
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TSA agents and air traffic controllers are considered essential federal employees, which means they continue to work during a government shutdown. The workers are not paid during this time, but are guaranteed back pay when the shutdown is resolved.
The situation could get messy if the shutdown lasts longer than two weeks.
During the 34-day government shutdown in 2018, roughly 10% of TSA workers called out sick, which led to delays at airport security checkpoints across the country.
In response to the recent shutdown, GOAA CEO Lance Lyttle said Orlando International Airport is committed to safety and security, while working closely with federal partners.
“Though a federal government shutdown is in effect, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority does not anticipate that operations at MCO will be affected, and we hope there will be a resolution soon,” Lyttle said in a statement. ”During this time, we encourage passengers to use the FlyMCO website or Orlando MCO app to stay up to date on airport operations.”