Transportation boss says flight delays so far are ‘tiddlywinks’ compared to what’s to come

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy spoke at O’Hare Airport, the hub that’s seen the most cancellations and delays. He said disruptions to fliers so far are nothing compared to what could come.

Transportation Sec Duffy says continuing shutdown could ground planes

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy believes more normal travel is on the way if the House passes legislation to end the shutdown.

CHICAGO – Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy promised on Nov. 11 that if the government doesn’t move to reopen soon, the flight delays and disruptions American travelers have experienced so far will be considered “tiddlywinks.”

Duffy delivered his remarks to reporters at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, a major hub in the Midwest that has experienced greater delays and cancellations than anywhere else in the nation, according to flight data tracker FlightAware. The airport had seen 121 cancellations and 281 delays as of 4 p.m. local time, according to FlightAware. 

“If the House doesn’t pass this bill, I think you’re going to look at Saturday, Sunday and Monday as tiddlywinks,” Duffy said. “It was beautiful. It’s going to get much worse than that.” 

Duffy’s comments come days after the Federal Aviation Administration began reducing the number of flights going in and out of airports around the country. Travelers told USA TODAY on Nov. 7, the first day of cuts, that they feared flying over the Thanksgiving holiday would be a “slaughter.”

The secretary warned that the flying will become much more difficult much sooner than the holiday, possibly the weekend. 

“We’ll see more than 10% disruption — and possibly airlines grounding planes altogether,” Duff said. “That’s how serious this is.”

If the government reopens, Duffy was unsure of how long it would take airports to get back to normal operations. He said the agency has relied on data modeling to decide how many flights to cut so far and would rely on the same system to decide how soon to bring back flights.

$10k bonuses for FAA employees? Duffy on Trump promises for workers 

Air traffic controllers have continued working without paychecks during the shutdown as essential personnel. But some failed to show up as they looked for other jobs to make ends meet during the congressional impasse, leading to the Aviation Administration to cancel flights. Nearly 15,000 flights were delayed on Nov. 11, according to FlightAware. 

President Donald Trump has alternatively threatened to “dock” the pay of workers who don’t show or told them to quit and promised $10,000 bonuses for employees who continued working.

Duffy called the president’s offered bonuses “brilliant” while stopping short of guaranteeing them. 

“The air traffic controllers who didn’t miss a day, they came for every scheduled shift that they had. They should get a bonus,” said Duffy, adding that the exact amount would be contingent on an analysis. He called the workers “patriots” and said they should be invited to the White House to receive their checks.

He also stopped short of telling workers who failed to show up not to return. 

“I’m concerned about those controllers. I’m concerned about their dedication. I’m concerned about their patriotism,” the secretary said. “We haven’t made a decision, but we are going to look at those controllers.”

Duffy he added he worried about what lasting impact the shutdown would have on recruiting aviation workers and said he was concerned the experience would leave prospective air traffic controllers wary.

‘We have to live today’: Duffy promises modernization of air traffic tech

Among goals for the Aviation Administration under Duffy, the transportation secretary said he hopes to modernize equipment controllers use.

“Air traffic controllers need brand new equipment,” said Duffy, noting air traffic controllers are still using paper flight strips which he called “great 1985 technology” but outdated. “It’s a blast from the past but we should live today and technology from today.”

Congress has allocated $12.5 billion to the FAA, said Duffy, short of the $31.5 billion he says is needed for the program he envisions.

In addition to changing to digital flight strips, the secretary said he wants to build a digital platform for managing the skies. Duffy estimated the program would take more than three years. He said the agency would likely look to hire a private company for the project.

“The FAA does a great job at safety, they don’t know how to build,” Duffy said. We’re going to have radios, new voice switches, new radar, new telecom, we’re going to have to switch from analog to digital.”