WASHINGTON —

As the federal government entered the second week of a shutdown, staffing shortages among air traffic controllers began impacting travel .

But even before the shutdown began on Oct. 1, a shortage of air traffic controllers existed.

More than 13,000 air traffic controllers were set to continue working during the shutdown without pay, according to the Department of Transportation’s contingency plan . Other activities that will continue include the hiring and field training of controllers.

"You've seen the delays around the country. You've seen us warn for over a decade that if we do not do something and there's not an investment, there's going to be additional delays," Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association , told the Washington

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