In brief
As the US government shutdown enters its second day, airlines have been forced to cancel over 1,000 flights and delay nearly 4,000 others. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reduced air traffic capacity by up to 10% at major airports to ensure safety, as air traffic controllers work without pay and report fatigue. This situation is exacerbated as the busy Thanksgiving travel season approaches.
More than 1,000 flights to, from, or within the US were cancelled on Saturday following airlines being directed to reduce traffic during the ongoing federal government shutdown.
According to flight tracker FlightAware, nearly 4,000 flights were also delayed, down from over 7,000 delays on Friday.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced earlier that it would curtail air travel capacity by up to 10% at 40 of the nation's busiest airports, attributing the decision to air traffic controllers reporting fatigue while working without pay during the shutdown.
As of 8 November, the shutdown has now reached its 39th day, marking the longest in US history, driven by a deadlock between Republicans and Democrats in Congress. The shutdown began on 1 October.
Among the hardest-hit airports was Newark Liberty International, where arrivals faced an average delay of more than four hours, and departures were delayed by about 1.5 hours.
The airports reporting the highest number of cancellations included Charlotte/Douglas International, Newark Liberty, and Chicago O'Hare, with extensive delays reported across other major hubs, including substantial wait times at John F. Kennedy International and Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson.
In a bid for safety and efficiency, the FAA implemented a gradual reduction in flights, starting with a 4% cut on Friday, increasing to 6% by 11 November, 8% by 13 November, and reaching the full 10% by 14 November.
The controller workforce is among the 1.4 million federal workers affected, many of whom are struggling with the pressures of working without compensation. This has led to many controllers calling in sick or taking secondary jobs to cope financially.
As Thanksgiving approaches, which typically marks one of the busiest travel seasons in the US, the impact of restrictions on air travel is expected to intensify.
