Flight cancellations are spiking in part because this air traffic control center in Florida is severely understaffed, airline group says

• Staffing at air traffic control centers is a concern for the pilots association.

• The center in Jacksonville has been understaffed for 27 days in a row.

• 30 people have been hired at the center as of June, according to the government.

Ahead of the busy July 4 holiday weekend, a US airline lobby group wants the federal government to address air traffic control staffing.

In a letter sent to transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg on Friday, Airlines for America said one of its member carriers estimated that air traffic control issues contributed to at least one-third of recent US flight cancellation. The letter was seen by someone.

More than 35,000 flights were disrupted over the Juneteenth weekend in May and June.

Staffing shortages have led to traffic restrictions under blue sky conditions according to A4A.

The Jacksonville Air Route Traffic Control Center in Florida has been understaffed for 27 days in a row. In Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and North and South Carolina, the facility is in charge of air traffic.

The FAA met with airlines in May and committed to increase the number of authorized staff at Jacksonville Center and evaluate other Florida facilities.

News4JAX reported that 30 new controllers have been hired by the FAA at the center. Insider was told by the FAA that additional controllers have been added to the team in Jacksonville.

There is not a system-wide air traffic controller shortage and the driving factor for delays and cancelations in Florida isconvective weather and demand to travel to the state, according to the agency. There won't be a space launch during the Fourth of July weekend and the agency has put more controllers in high demand areas.

Henry Harteveldt, travel analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group, told Insider that hiring is a challenge for the FAA because of the lengthy process. He said that the agency needs to do a better job.

The FAA launched a campaign to hire the next generation of air traffic controllers. The window of opportunity for US citizens to apply is only open through June 27.

Some ATC centers in the US have had issues. John Lucia is an officer at the FAA's Air Traffic Control System Command Center.

The Newark Liberty International Airport hub has caused significant flight disruptions according to the United CEO.

The controllers are working their tails off to be successful when the ATC is under 50% staffing. It is a nightmare for customers, for employees, for the airlines, when you are at 50% staff with 89 operations in schedule and they have us on a blue sky day at 36 operations per hour.

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