U.S. airlines have had to cancel over 2,700 flights on Sunday, with U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy cautioning that air travel across the nation may significantly decrease if the federal government shutdown continues into the busy Thanksgiving travel period.
The slowdown, affecting 40 of the country’s busiest airports, has entered its third day, causing broader disruptions. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated flight reductions at major airports due to unpaid air traffic controllers not reporting to work after nearly a month without pay.
On Sunday alone, more than 10,000 flight delays were recorded, marking the highest disruptions in a single day since the government shutdown commenced, as reported by FlightAware, a platform monitoring air travel disturbances. Over 1,000 flights were canceled on Friday and more than 1,500 on Saturday.
The FAA initiated reductions starting at four percent on Friday, set to escalate to 10 percent by November 14, impacting all commercial airlines between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. local time.
Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta faced the most cancellations on Sunday, surpassing 570, followed by Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey with at least 265 cancellations. Weather conditions, especially freezing conditions, were also a concern in Georgia, as the National Weather Service office in Atlanta issued warnings through Tuesday.
Traveler Kyra March finally reached Hartsfield-Jackson on Sunday after a series of delays and postponements the previous day, reflecting the challenges faced by many passengers.
Secretary Duffy highlighted the possibility of further flight reductions, potentially reaching up to 20 percent, if the shutdown persists, especially as controllers continue to work without pay. He emphasized the potential impact on Thanksgiving travel, warning of minimal air travel and numerous cancellations, with a significant number of frustrated travelers expected.
The shortage of air traffic controllers, a long-standing issue, has been exacerbated by the shutdown, prompting an increase in retirements. Duffy mentioned efforts to address this shortage, including a proposal from Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide military air traffic controllers, although their certification for civilian systems remains uncertain.
Despite allegations of political motives behind the flight cancellations, Duffy asserted that safety concerns and system overload necessitated the actions taken. Airlines for America reported that staffing-related delays exceeded 3,000 hours on Saturday, with staffing issues contributing to 71 percent of delay time during the shutdown.
Controller shortages have disrupted over four million passengers on U.S. carriers from October 1 to November 7, as highlighted by Airlines for America, underscoring the widespread impact of the ongoing government shutdown on air travel.
