Federal government shutdown affecting air travel in Northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) - Cleveland Hopkins International Airport only seeing minimal delays Tuesday morning. Some travelers came prepared for issues...some not.

“We got here about a half an hour earlier than normal, but everything seems to be fine,” said traveler Brian Knapp. “It’s just a sad story on what’s going on with the opening of the government but everything seems to be fine so far.”

“I’ll be honest with you, I didn’t even think about that!” laughed Ifijen Okeghe. ”I didn’t even think about it!”

Hopkins still urges travelers to prepare, first by looking at the Hopkins website and also check with airlines. The airport also recommends downloading flight tracking information.

“We have not seen a huge impact to air traffic or processing times at TSA,” said Megan O’Connell, Hopkins Assistant Director, Marketing, Communications, and Guest Experience.

“We know that our employees here, whether they’re TSA or air traffic, whatever they might be, they’re dedicated to our community and processing people safely so we’re very fortunate from our perspective.”

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said more controllers are calling in sick across the country, leaving some to ask, will it affect safety.

“I don’t have any safety concerns,” said Debby Saunders. “I think that they’re just still going to be doing a great job.”

Airport workers coming together to help hundreds of federal employees — air traffic controllers, TSA workers, and border security — to help make the federal shutdown easier for them…and their families.

“We created a food pantry where employees of the airport are able to bring in non perishable food items and they’re also able to bring in toiletries like toothpaste and other things they’re going to need to get by,” explained O’Connell.

Many travelers seem hopeful it’s only a temporary inconvenience.

“I feel pretty confident that things will get squared and it will get back to normal,” said Knapp.

Some air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals will hand out leaflets warning about the negative impact of the shutdown Tuesday afternoon.