Air travel chaos swept across the United States on Friday as the nationwide government shutdown forced airlines to cancel over 1,200 flights, leaving thousands of travellers stranded just weeks before the busy Thanksgiving holiday.
According to aviation tracking website FlightAware, the cancellations marked one of the worst travel disruptions in recent months. Major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta, and Southwest, have significantly reduced their schedules to cope with staffing shortages resulting from the shutdown.
Major airlines slash flight schedules
American Airlines announced it had cancelled 220 flights daily, while Delta cancelled around 170 flights, and Southwest Airlines scrapped about 100 flights. Flight delays on Thursday exceeded 6,800, with a further 200 cancellations, FlightAware reported.
The disruptions stem from the Trump administration’s directive to cut flight schedules and ease pressure on air traffic controllers, many of whom are working without pay during the federal shutdown.
“This is part of a phased reduction starting at 4 per cent and expected to reach up to 10 per cent next week,” a senior airline operations executive told AFP, warning that the situation could worsen if Congress fails to approve a funding measure.
Major airports hit hardest
Some of the most severely affected airports include Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, Newark Liberty, Denver International, Chicago O’Hare, Houston Intercontinental, and Los Angeles International (LAX).
Despite the widespread disruptions, 94 per cent of flights still managed to depart on time, according to FlightAware. However, passengers faced long queues, rebookings, and extended layovers, particularly at major hubs.
Travellers at Boston Logan and Newark airports faced average delays exceeding two hours, while those flying from Chicago O’Hare and Washington Reagan National experienced hour-long holdups.
Shutdown’s impact on Americans
The ongoing federal government shutdown, now nearing its sixth week, has left thousands of federal employees furloughed or working without pay. This includes critical personnel such as aviation safety inspectors, TSA agents, and air traffic controllers, whose reduced presence has begun to impact daily flight operations.
“This will get serious if things drag on to Thanksgiving,” said Werner Buchi, a retiree waiting at New York’s LaGuardia Airport for his daughter’s flight from North Carolina.
Rhonda, 65, who travelled from Portland, Maine, expressed concern over holiday travel plans. “This is hurting a lot of people. Families could miss Thanksgiving because politicians won’t talk to each other,” she said.
Airlines, analysts warn of worsening crisis
Industry experts have cautioned that the situation could deteriorate if Congress does not reach a deal soon. Aviation analytics firm Cirium estimated that 3 per cent of US flights had already been cancelled and warned of a potential rise in delays as air traffic control resources continue to shrink.
The Thanksgiving period is typically among the busiest for US travel, with an estimated 30 million passengers expected to fly over a two-week span. Any continued disruption could result in severe economic losses for airlines and airports, in addition to the growing frustration among travellers.