Miami airport terminal close amid sickout

MIAMI — Miami International Airport is closing a terminal this weekend because security screeners have been calling in sick at twice the airport’s normal rate as the federal government shutdown stretches toward a fourth week.

Friday marks the first day screeners will miss a paycheck, and airport spokesman Greg Chin said there’s a concern there won’t be enough workers to handle all 11 checkpoints during normal hours over the weekend.

Chin said Terminal G will close at 1 p.m. Saturday, reopen for flights Sunday morning and close again at 1 p.m. that day. The terminal serves United Airlines along with smaller carriers. Its closure means restaurants and shops that depend on departing flights also will close.

“We felt we had to make a decision before the weekend,” Chin said. “They’re erring on the side of caution.”

Chin told The Miami Herald that some passengers have complained about longer waits, but there’ve been no abnormal security delays.