US Airlines Cancel Over 2,700 Flights Amid Government Shutdown
On Sunday, more than 2,700 flights were canceled primarily due to the ongoing government shutdown and the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) directive to reduce air traffic.
Airport Scenes During Disruption
- Passengers waited in long lines to check in at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
- Travelers queued up at Detroit Metropolitan Airport amid delays. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)
- Lines formed at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints at LaGuardia Airport in New York City. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
- American Eagle and American Airlines planes stood idle at gates at LaGuardia Airport. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
Impact on Air Traffic and Travel
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the federal government shutdown continued through the busy Thanksgiving travel season, air traffic could “slow to a trickle.” The reduction in flights affected 40 of the nation’s busiest airports and marked the third consecutive day of severe disruptions.
“Air traffic across the nation would slow to a trickle if the federal government shutdown lingered into the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday season.” — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy
FAA Flight Reductions and Delays
The FAA ordered cuts in flights after some air traffic controllers, unpaid for nearly a month, began not showing up for work. On Sunday alone, close to 10,000 flight delays were reported, according to FlightAware, a website that monitors air travel disruptions.
Author's summary: The government shutdown has led to massive flight cancellations and delays at major US airports, significantly straining air travel during the critical Thanksgiving period.