*

FAA head says safety will not be compromised as staffing

shortages persist

*

More than 23,000 flights have been delayed this week

*

USDOT says about half of flight delays this week have been

tied

to FAA staffing issues

(Updates with airline group, details on disruptions in

paragraphs 1-8)

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Oct 10 (Reuters) -

A group representing major U.S. airlines on Friday urged air

travelers to be patient as air traffic control staffing issues

delayed travel for a fifth straight day.

"It is safe to fly, but ATC staffing shortages strain

the system and cause flights to be spaced out, slowing down

everything," said Airlines for America, the trade group

representing American Airlines ( AAL ), United Airlines,

Delta Air Lines ( DAL ), Southwest Airlines ( LUV ) and other

major carriers, warning of delays or cancellations.

"The bottom line is that anyone heading to the airport

right now is encouraged to pack their patience."

The Federal Aviation Administration said staffing issues

were resulting in delays at airports including Phoenix, Newark

and New York LaGuardia and more are expected later in the day.

More than 2,500 flights have been delayed by 1 p.m. ET

(1700 GMT) Friday, after 22,000 had been delayed since Monday.

Air travel is expected to rise in the United States during the

three-day Columbus Day holiday weekend.

Earlier, the head of the FAA said that the agency is

facing continuing air traffic control staffing shortages as a

U.S. government shutdown entered its 10th day but emphasized

safety would not be compromised.

"Staffing shortages have increased across the country," FAA

Administrator Bryan Bedford said in an email to employees.

"Safety will never be compromised. When staffing constraints

occur, we will reduce the flow of air traffic into affected

airports and centers to maintain safe operations."

Some 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000

Transportation Security Administration officers must still turn

up for work during the government shutdown, but they are not

being paid. Controllers are set to receive a partial paycheck on

October 14 for work performed before the shutdown.

In 2019, during a 35-day shutdown, the number of

absences by controllers and TSA officers rose as workers missed

paychecks, extending checkpoint wait times at some airports.

Authorities were forced to slow air traffic in New York, which

put pressure on lawmakers to quickly end the standoff.