Travelers across the United States are bracing for widespread flight cancellations after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines to slash schedules due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Starting Friday, carriers will reduce flights by 4%, rising to 10% in 40 high-traffic areas, citing safety concerns amid staff shortages. Over 650 flights set for Friday were preemptively canceled, according to FlightAware, with airlines like American, Delta, and Southwest each cutting hundreds of daily departures.
On-the-ground Impact
More than 5,500 flights were delayed on Thursday, with 160 cancellations, as long lines formed at security checkpoints nationwide. Major hubs such as Boston and Newark saw average delays of over two hours, while Chicago O'Hare and Washington Reagan National reported waits exceeding an hour.
“We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself, when the early indicators are telling us we can take action today to prevent things from deteriorating,” said FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford.
Peak Travel Season Strain
With Thanksgiving just weeks away, the cancellation wave threatens the busiest period of the year. Flight reductions will hit key airports including Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles. Airlines warn that hub-to-hub routes and international flights remain intact, but local connections could face significant cuts.
Senate Stalemate
The shutdown has left 1.4 million federal workers—from air traffic controllers to park rangers—on leave or working without pay. Senators failed to agree on a stopgap funding deal, with Republicans demanding a reopening first and Democrats insisting on healthcare subsidy protections before any deal.
The Senate is set to vote again Friday, but with only a handful of senators willing to break party lines, prospects for a quick resolution remain uncertain.
As the travel crunch deepens, passengers are urged to check flight statuses regularly and plan for possible delays or reroutes.
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U.S. set for travel chaos as flights cut due to govt shutdown
cgtn.com
