URGENT UPDATE: Airport chaos is set to worsen this week as the federal government shutdown stretches into its third week. With Congress failing to finalize a deal, U.S. airlines have canceled over 1,500 flights on Saturday and more than 2,900 flights on Sunday, following a FAA order to cut traffic due to a significant shortage of air traffic controllers.
As of early Monday, airlines have already scrapped nearly 1,600 flights for today and nearly 1,000 for Tuesday, according to reports. Major airports—including Newark, Orlando, Chicago, and Detroit—are experiencing substantial delays, with many flights facing wait times exceeding one hour, as reported by FlightAware.
The air traffic controllers’ union, led by head Nick Daniels, will hold a press conference Monday morning to discuss the dire consequences of the ongoing shutdown. This is now the second consecutive pay period during which controllers have gone unpaid, resulting in many opting to stop reporting for duty.
The FAA has mandated a 4% reduction in flights over the weekend, which is expected to escalate to 6% on Tuesday and potentially 10% by the weekend. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy indicated on “Fox News Sunday” that cuts could reach up to 20% if conditions do not improve. “More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day, the further they go without a paycheck,” Duffy stated.
The federal government has long faced a shortage of air traffic controllers, a problem exacerbated by the current shutdown. Duffy noted that some controllers are hastening their retirements due to the ongoing crisis. While a 4% reduction may seem manageable, it significantly impacts air travel at 40 of the busiest airports across the U.S.
Experts warn that if the situation remains unaddressed, the impact could deepen just as the holiday travel season approaches. Duffy cautioned that air travel may “be reduced to a trickle” by the week of Thanksgiving, raising concerns for millions of Americans planning to travel during this peak time.
Travelers are advised to monitor flight statuses closely and prepare for potential disruptions as the government shutdown continues. The situation remains fluid, with updates expected in the coming days as Congress deliberates.
