Air travel across the United States has descended into chaos as flight cancellations continue to mount during the ongoing federal government shutdown, with transportation secretary Sean Duffy warning that travel could be reduced to a "trickle" if the situation persists.
Growing Disruption Across US Airports
The Federal Aviation Administration has mandated a 4% reduction in air traffic at 40 high-traffic US airports, leading to widespread cancellations that affected thousands of passengers over the weekend. The first round of flight reductions resulted in approximately 800 cancellations on Friday and 1,460 on Saturday, with more than 1,000 flights cancelled by Sunday morning according to flight tracking service FlightAware.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy delivered a stark warning on CNN's State of the Union programme, stating: "You're going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle. We have a number of people who want to get home for the holidays. They want to see their family... Many of them are not going to be able to get on an airplane because there are not going to be that many flights that fly if this thing doesn't open back up."
Staffing Crisis Among Air Traffic Controllers
The root of the problem lies with air traffic controllers, who like other federal employees have not been paid for weeks during what has become the longest government shutdown in US history, now reaching its 40th day. FAA administrator Bryan Bedford revealed that between 20% to 40% of controllers had failed to show up for work in recent days.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association expressed grave concerns about the situation, noting that many controllers are working 10-hour days and six-day weeks without pay. The union warned that "the financial and mental strain increases risks within the National Airspace System, making it less safe with each passing day of the shutdown."
On Saturday, the union delivered 1,600 handwritten letters from members to Congress demanding an end to the shutdown.
Political Impasse and Economic Consequences
As the shutdown continues, Democratic and Republican lawmakers remain locked in a blame game. The White House accused Democrats of "inflicting their man-made catastrophe on Americans", while Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer countered that Republicans were "playing games" rather than negotiating.
The economic implications extend beyond air travel. Analysts warn that nearly half of US air freight travels in passenger aircraft, potentially leading to higher store prices and increased shipping costs for consumers. The tourism and manufacturing sectors also face significant losses if the situation continues.
With Thanksgiving approaching, rental car companies reported a sharp increase in one-way reservations as travellers sought alternative transport, while many others simply cancelled their plans altogether.
Airlines are offering full refunds for cancelled flights, but uncertainty remains for passengers as the FAA has instructed carriers to cut 6% of flights on Tuesday and 10% by 14 November if the shutdown persists. Duffy has warned that reductions could reach 20% if the political deadlock continues.
