Concerns over flight delays and missed paychecks due to the US government shutdown escalated Wednesday, as senators rejected yet another bid to end the standoff.

Democrats voted for a sixth time to block a Republican stopgap funding measure to reopen government departments, keeping much of the federal workforce home or working without pay.

With the shutdown in its eighth day, lines at airports were expected to grow amid increased absenteeism among security and safety staff at some of the country's busiest hubs.

Air traffic controllers -- seen as "essential" public servants -- are kept at work during government shutdowns, but higher numbers calling in sick rather than toiling without pay leads to shortages.

Staffing problems have already been reported in almost a dozen airports from Chi

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