Jamestown airport doesn’t foresee direct impacts from shutdown, but some flights might be delayed

JAMESTOWN, N.D. — TSA may have to close some smaller airports due to agents and screeners across the country calling in sick during the partial government shutdown.

The director of the airport in Jamestown says that they don’t foresee that airport closing due to the shutdown.

She also says the reopening of a low-interest loan program by the state Industrial Commission, through the Bank of North Dakota, will help retain TSA workers as the shutdown continues.

However, they could be impacted by the closing of other airports in the country which could have a ripple effect on flight cancellations and delays.

“Though we’re not having a problem here, if there’s a problem of a connection, or at a larger airport where they’re seeing a significant reduction in staff, therefore significant increases in wait times, flights get delayed, (…) or people have to rebook. Those kinds of things can really affect the entire aero system,” said Jamestown Regional Airport Director Katie Hemmer.

Shawn Dobberstein, with Hector International airport also says travelers should come early in case of longer wait time at security checkpoints and monitor the airport they will originate from when they return to Fargo.