More than 2,000 flights were cancelled across the United States between Friday and Sunday as staff shortages crippled air traffic control centres and federal flight restrictions took effect.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a 4% flight reduction at 40 major airports, a figure expected to climb to 10% by Nov. 14. Airlines including SkyWest, Southwest, and Envoy Air suffered the heaviest losses, while United, Delta, and American also faced widespread delays, according to FlightAware data.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the government shutdown persists, reductions could soar to 20%, further paralysing the nation’s skies. He attributed the crisis to unpaid air traffic controllers, many of whom are taking secondary jobs to survive.
“The problem we really have is air traffic controllers aren’t being paid,” Duffy told Fox News. “They’re being forced to take other jobs instead of manning towers.”
The ongoing government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, has left hundreds of thousands of federal employees without pay, including Transportation Security Administration officers and air controllers who remain on duty under mounting strain.
Duffy urged Congress to end the stalemate, warning that continued political gridlock would deepen the disruption. “Let’s not hold American travellers hostage by this shutdown that’s reached a historic level,” he said.
Even if the government reopens soon, Duffy cautioned that it may take days to restore full operations as staff return and airlines rebuild schedules.
For now, the nation’s airways remain strained, with travellers facing uncertainty and airlines bracing for one of the most prolonged operational crises in recent memory.
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