US Airlines Cancel Over 2,700 Flights Due to Government Shutdown
Airlines canceled more than 2,700 flights on Sunday, primarily because of the ongoing government shutdown and the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) directive to reduce air traffic.
Travelers experienced long waits at major airports including Chicago O’Hare, Detroit Metropolitan, and New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
Impact on Major Airports
- Flight cancellations increased significantly at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports.
- The FAA mandated flight reductions as many air traffic controllers, unpaid for nearly a month, have stopped reporting to work.
- Nearly 10,000 flight delays were recorded on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware.
Government Warning
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air traffic across the country could “slow to a trickle” if the shutdown continued into the busy Thanksgiving travel season.
The disruptions have intensified after three consecutive days of the shutdown, affecting holiday travel plans nationwide.
Visual Coverage
- Passengers queued at American Airlines check-in counters and TSA security checkpoints at major airports.
- American Eagle and American Airlines planes crowded gates at LaGuardia Airport.
Summary
The government shutdown has severely disrupted U.S. air travel, causing thousands of cancellations and delays as unpaid air traffic controllers reduce operations, impacting the critical holiday travel period.