UPDATE: Airport disruptions are intensifying as the U.S. government shutdown drags on, with over 1,500 flights canceled Saturday and more than 2,900 flights on Sunday. Airlines are struggling to manage air traffic due to a significant shortage of air traffic controllers, who have gone unpaid for nearly a month and are increasingly absent from work.
As of early Monday, airlines reported nearly 1,600 flight cancellations for today alone, with an additional 1,000 cancellations anticipated for Tuesday. The FAA has issued a mandatory 4% reduction in flights to maintain safety as controller attendance dwindles. This reduction is set to escalate to 6% on Tuesday and potentially reach 10% by the end of the week.
Airports across the nation are experiencing severe delays, particularly in Newark, Orlando, Chicago, and Detroit, where flights are facing delays exceeding an hour, according to data from FlightAware. The ongoing crisis is expected to worsen as airlines struggle to reposition planes and crew due to the air traffic controller shortage.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on “Fox News Sunday” that flight cuts could reach up to 20% if the situation does not improve. He stated, “More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day, the further they go without a paycheck.” The head of the air traffic controllers union, Nick Daniels, is set to hold a press conference Monday morning, addressing the dire impact of the shutdown on their workforce.
This is the second pay period that air traffic controllers have gone without pay, leading to increased retirements and a deeper staffing crisis at already strained airports. The FAA’s flight reductions primarily affect 40 of the nation’s busiest airports, raising concerns over safety as remaining controllers are forced to work long hours and mandatory overtime.
If the shutdown persists, travel may be severely impacted just as the busy Thanksgiving holiday approaches. Duffy cautioned that air travel could “be reduced to a trickle” during the week of Thanksgiving if the crisis remains unaddressed. With travel plans for millions of Americans hanging in the balance, the urgency for Congress to resolve the shutdown could not be more critical.
As the situation develops, travelers are urged to stay informed and check flight statuses frequently. Further updates are expected as Congress works towards a resolution. The immediate future of air travel in the U.S. hangs in the balance as delays and cancellations continue to escalate.
