January 25, 2019 05:59 PM
NEW YORK (AP/WHEC) - The Federal Aviation Administration is reporting delays in air travel because of a "slight increase in sick leave" at two East Coast air traffic control facilities.
FAA spokesman Gregory Martin said Friday that it had augmented staffing, rerouted traffic and increased spacing between planes as needed.
The staffing problems were at air traffic centers in Jacksonville, Florida and a Washington, D.C. center that controls high-altitude air traffic over seven states.
Martin says safety is being maintained during a period of "minimal impacts" on travel.
LaGuardia Airport in New York and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey were both experiencing delays in takeoffs.
Flights out of Greater Rochester International Airport are impacted. You can check your flight status here.
Airport officials in Rochester pointed out that the passengers primarily impacted Friday were flying with Delta, which is the only airline to offer direct flights from ROC to LGA.
A Delta spokesperson told News10NBC, "As of Friday morning, Delta is experiencing about 200 flight delays at New York's LaGuardia Airport as well as other airports in the northeast region due to the FAA's Ground Delay Program. Delta is working to re-accommodate customers to their destinations, and encourages customers traveling on Friday to check Delta.com or the Fly Delta app for their current flight status."
The statement went on to say, "We are pleased that both sides have come to an agreement to reopen the government. We are hopeful that elected officials enact both the current three-week solution as well as a longer-term solution."
You can also monitor air traffic here.
AP/WHEC
Updated: January 25, 2019 05:59 PM
Created: January 25, 2019 10:48 AM
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