(Oct. 13) Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport continues to operate smoothly despite the federal government shutdown, the agency that runs the airport said, but it faces a test with a busy travel week.
The Metropolitan Airports Commission, which owns and operates the airport, said in a statement that MSP airlines and the MAC have increased staffing levels for the heavy travel expected this week, when many families will be travelling with students out of school beginning Wednesday due to the annual Minnesota Educator Academy conference.
“MSP airlines and the MAC have increased staffing levels to assist travelers and reduce wait times for check-in and security processes,” MAC said in a statement. It expected 50,000 travelers to pass through TSA security checkpoints Wednesday and 52,000 Thursday.
The commission also said that during the government shutdown the airport’s “federal partners have worked to maintain passenger security and air traffic control at normal operational levels.”
Reached for comment on MSP staffing levels last week, the local offices of the federal Transportation Security Administration said no one was available to speak “due to the funding lapse.”
A TSA spokesperson said that as of last week it had “not experienced any delay in operations due to callouts, and remains fully capable of facilitating safe and secure travel for passengers.”
“Callouts” or “sickouts” are when an employee does not show up for a scheduled shift. About 61,000 of its 64,000 workers nationwide are considered essential workers and must work through the shutdown.
TSA employees received a partial paycheck Oct. 10 but will not receive their salary again until federal funds begin to flow.
During the 2018 partial government shutdown, 10% of TSA screeners were calling in sick in the final days of the shutdown.
“We’re grateful for the thousands of federal workers who are continuing to support air transportation at MSP and across the country during the government shutdown,” MAC Chief Executive Brian Ryks said. “While there have been minimal impacts so far at MSP, passengers may experience delays and longer wait times wherever they fly in the days ahead.”
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