Air travel across the United States has been thrown into disarray as a deepening government shutdown forces thousands of flight cancellations and delays. With air traffic controllers working unpaid and many calling in sick or taking second jobs, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered airlines to reduce domestic flights at 40 of the country’s busiest airports.
So far, over 5,000 flights have been affected, with delays averaging four hours at major hubs like Washington’s Reagan National Airport. The FAA warns that reductions could rise from 4% to 10% next week—and possibly up to 20% if the shutdown continues.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said, “If this shutdown doesn’t end relatively soon, the consequence will be more controllers not coming to work,” adding that even after a resolution, it could take days or weeks for airlines to resume normal schedules.
Major carriers including United, Delta, and Southwest have pledged full refunds and flexible rebooking options for stranded passengers. Southwest alone has cancelled 120 flights today, with more expected over the weekend.
The shutdown, now in its 38th day, has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid—including TSA agents and air traffic controllers—raising serious concerns about aviation safety and staffing. The trade group Airlines for America reports that over 3.5 million passengers have faced disruptions since the crisis began.
With Thanksgiving travel looming, industry leaders and unions are urging Congress to act swiftly. “Safety is not a political game,” said Sara Nelson, president of the flight attendants’ union. “Without air travel, the country stops.”
Stay tuned to London Christian Radio for continuing coverage on this developing story.
London Christian Radio
