*

FAA slowing flights as controllers call in sick

*

TSA absences are leading to long security lines at some

airports

*

Trump administration has no plans to fire controllers who

are

absent

(Adds new FAA figures, airlines statement in paragraphs 1-2,

6-10)

By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, Nov 3 (Reuters) -

U.S. officials delayed a new round of flights on Monday as

airlines said 3.2 million air passengers have been hit by delays

or canceled flights due to a spike in air traffic controller

absences amid a lack of pay as the government shutdown entered

its 34th day.

The FAA said there were ground delays at airports in

Dallas and Austin due to air traffic controller shortages.

Nearly 2,900 flights have been delayed on Monday and further

delays could be issued for Houston and Washington airports, the

FAA said.

The shutdown has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and

50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers to work

without pay and snarled tens of thousands of flights.

Earlier, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned the

Trump administration would shutter the U.S. aviation system if

he thought an ongoing government shutdown was making it too

risky to travel.

"If we thought that it was unsafe... we'll shut the whole

airspace down. We won't let people travel. We're not there at

this point. It's just significant delays," Duffy told CNBC.

On Friday, the FAA said nearly half of the 30 busiest U.S.

airports faced shortages of air traffic controllers, leading to

more than 6,200 flights being delayed and 500 canceled, in the

single worst day since the shutdown began.

In New York on Friday 80% of air traffic controllers

were absent, the agency said. Duffy said 65% of delays Friday

were caused by controller absences.

More than 3.2 million passengers have had flights delayed or

canceled due to air traffic control staffing issues since the

shutdown began on October 1 -- including 300,000 Friday alone --

said Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines ( AAL )

, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines ( LUV ),

Delta Air Lines ( DAL ), JetBlue Airways ( JBLU ) and other

major carriers.

The group said 16% of delays were because of staffing issues

in October, up from the typical 5% before the shutdown, a figure

that has grown to 79% in the first two days of November.

Airlines have been reaching out to lawmakers to raise

concerns about the impact of the disruptions on operations.

United CEO Scott Kirby said the ongoing shutdown was

impacting flight bookings and airlines are concerned about the

looming start of the holiday travel season.

Duffy also said he has no plans to fire air traffic

controllers who are calling in sick, saying they "are trying to

put food on their families' table. I am asking all of them to

come to work."

A growing number of air traffic controller absences during

the 34-day-old government shutdown have led to dramatic delays

at U.S. airports. Absences by Transportation Security

Administration security officers have led to very long lines at

San Diego and Houston airports in recent days. Houston Bush had

more than three-hour-long security lines on Sunday.

On Saturday there were 4,600 delays and 173 canceled

flights, and on Sunday 5,800 delays and 244 canceled flights.

AIRLINES URGE CONGRESS TO END SHUTDOWN

The largest four airlines and the National Air Traffic

Controllers Association have all called on Congress to quickly

pass a stop-gap funding bill to let the government reopen.

Airlines have repeatedly urged an end to the shutdown, citing

aviation safety risks.

The shutdown has exacerbated existing staffing shortages,

threatening to cause widespread disruptions similar to those

that helped end a 35-day government shutdown in 2019.

The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of

targeted staffing levels and many had been working mandatory

overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown.