Las Vegas airport TSA operations still smooth despite problems elsewhere

Operations were continuing to run smoothly at Harry Reid International Airport Monday despite inclement weather and Transportation Security Administration agents not reporting for work at other airports around the country.

There were 58 flight cancellations and 327 delays into or out of the airport serving Las Vegas as of midafternoon on Monday, according to flight tracking website FlightAware, but those were the result of bad weather or TSA callouts at other airports.

Other delays and cancellations also have been attributed to the war in the Mideast, which entered its third week on Monday. The TSA staffing shortage began Feb. 14 when Senate Democrats sought policy changes in the operation of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement within the Department of Homeland Security. The TSA also is within Homeland Security and agents who monitor airport security checkpoints haven’t been paid since the Senate stalemate began.

FlightAware reported 4,014 cancellations and 10,606 flight delays within the United States at midafternoon Monday. FlightAware does not differentiate between flights delays and cancellations resulting from weather or TSA staffing issues.

Bad weather was reported in the upper Midwest Monday with Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport having nearly 600 cancellations and nearly 1,300 delays at 5 p.m.. There also were substantial numbers of cancellations and delays at LaGuardia Airport in New York, Charlotte-Douglas International in North Carolina, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, Orlando International and Miami International in Florida and Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington D.C.

Reid International has fought off potential TSA staffing problems by helping to meet agents’ financial needs by reopening a food and necessities pantry at the airport.

Federal employees who haven’t been receiving paychecks are invited to take food and household needs from a conference room that has been converted to a temporary pantry.

Airport officials are still seeking community donations to supply the pantry.

Companies and organizations interested in contributing to the pantry can coordinate drop-offs through the Airport Control Center at 702-261-7157. Drop-off hours are Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The pantry is open Monday through Friday from 4-7 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. and will remain operational until the partial government shutdown concludes. Distribution of items is based on available inventory and while supplies last.

“This will be a continuous need while the government shutdown continues to provide unpaid federal workers with basic household necessities,” an airport spokeswoman said in a Monday email.