U.S. Airline Cancellations Exceed 1,000 for Fourth Day in Row Amid Ongoing Shutdown
Flight cancellations in the U.S. continue to surge as the government shutdown persists, impacting air travel nationwide. On Monday, over 1,500 flights were canceled, marking the fourth consecutive day of cancellations exceeding 1,000. According to FlightAware, a flight tracking service, by 8:30 a.m. ET, 1,550 flights faced cancellations, while approximately 1,400 experienced delays.
Ongoing Impact of Government Shutdown
Since the government shutdown began on October 1, the aviation sector has faced severe disruptions. On Sunday alone, nearly 2,950 flights were canceled, leading to the worst day of travel interruptions recorded since the shutdown started. This spike in cancellations is largely due to air traffic control staffing shortages.
FAA Actions and Consequences
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced significant changes to flight operations. It has suspended general aviation traffic at 12 airports, including Chicago O’Hare and Reagan Washington National, due to staffing issues in air traffic control. Furthermore, the FAA has mandated airlines to reduce flights:
- 4% reduction starting Friday
- 6% reduction by Tuesday
- 10% reduction by November 14
Latest Developments
As the situation escalates, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasized the need for improved staffing and safety data before the FAA will consider lifting the mandated flight reductions. Lawmakers in the U.S. Senate recently took steps to advance a bill aimed at ending the ongoing shutdown, hoping to restore normalcy to the aviation sector.
The combination of staff shortages and problematic weather conditions, particularly a winter storm in Chicago, have further complicated the travel landscape. Aviation stakeholders continue to monitor the developments closely as they plan for the challenges ahead.
