US Airlines Cancel Over 2,700 Flights Amid Government Shutdown
On Sunday, airlines canceled more than 2,700 flights, mainly due to the government shutdown and the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) directive to reduce air traffic. This disruption affected 40 of the nation's busiest airports and worsened on the third day of the shutdown.
[translate:Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy] warned that air traffic across the country would "[translate:slow to a trickle]" if the federal government shutdown continued into the peak Thanksgiving travel period.
The FAA mandated flight reductions last week after many air traffic controllers, unpaid for nearly a month, stopped showing up to work. This led to significant delays, with nearly 10,000 flight delays reported on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware, a website monitoring air travel disruptions.
Visual Impact at Major Airports
- Travelers queued at American Airlines check-in counters at Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
- Long lines formed at Detroit Metropolitan Airport.
- Passengers waited at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints at LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York.
- American Eagle and American Airlines planes remained parked at gates at LaGuardia Airport.
These images reflect growing frustration among travelers as cancellations and delays continue.
Author’s summary: The government shutdown has severely disrupted US air travel, with thousands of flight cancellations and delays as unpaid controllers reduce air traffic capacity during a critical holiday season.