Budgetary paralysis: endless security checks and flight delays at some US airports

Air passengers faced long security delays at some Texas airports on Monday due to the budget impasse.

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Travelers departing from Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport on Monday experienced an estimated three-hour wait to get through security.

Delays at William P. Hobby Airport had risen to about an hour by midday Monday.

Passengers at Texas airports are facing wait times of several hours to get through checkpoints due to staff shortages related to the U.S. government shutdown.

According to the Houston Airport System, TSA security had to close this weekend in three of the five terminals at George Bush Intercontinental Airport.

"We thank you for your patience and understanding as our partners (at the TSA) work to maintain the safety of all passengers," Houston Airports System warned on its website Monday.

Flight arrivals and departures

Texas airports aren't the only ones experiencing delays. Newark Airport in New Jersey saw flight delays of two to three hours on Sunday.

There was a staff shortage in the control tower. Arrivals were therefore limited to 20 planes per hour in the afternoon, with higher fares later at night.

Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Chicago O'Hare experienced dozens of delays and at least one cancellation.

Airports in San Francisco, Austin, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Denver and Miami also experienced flight delays, according to FlightAware data.

Government "shutdown"

Government employees, including those at airports, have been working without pay since the start of the budget impasse, which is now entering its second month.

More than 700,000 federal employees have been furloughed without pay, while nearly 700,000 others are forced to continue working, also without pay, until the end of the blockade, according to an AFP report.

The labor shortage has also impacted air traffic controllers, recently resulting in momentary ground stops at Houston airports.

Travelers are therefore encouraged to arrive earlier than usual before their flight.

The budget impasse began on October 1st with the expiration of state funding. Since then, Republicans and Democrats have been unable to agree on a new budget.