Washington: The United States has faced severe disruptions in air travel as the ongoing government shutdown has forced the cancellation of thousands of flight operations nationwide.
According to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, up to 10 percent of domestic air travel across 40 major airports will be reduced if the funding impasse continues.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has stated that the decision to cut services is necessary to maintain safety as air traffic controllers report fatigue from working without pay. Approximately 1.4 million federal employees, including air traffic staff and park wardens, are either on forced leave or continuing their duties without salaries due to the lack of a budget agreement in Congress.
Major airports such as Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, New York JFK International, and Los Angeles International are expected to experience significant delays and cancellations. The FAA chief, Bryan Bedford, said that the gradual reductions will begin at four percent and increase to ten percent by mid-November.
The cancellations are projected to affect between 3,500 and 4,000 flights per day. While international travel will remain unaffected, domestic carriers like American Airlines and Delta Air Lines have confirmed they are preparing for schedule adjustments and offering customers flexible rebooking options.
Unions have reported growing stress among aviation workers, with some taking on additional jobs to cope with financial strain. The FAA and Transportation Department emphasized that safety remains the top priority while urging Congress to resolve the funding deadlock swiftly to prevent further disruption. Experts warn that without immediate government action, the reliability of domestic air travel may continue to decline in the coming weeks.
MOST READ | Vibe coding recognised as Collins Dictionary’s Word of the Year
