More than 1,200 flights were canceled across the United States on Friday after the Trump administration ordered air traffic reductions. The cuts aim to ease pressure on controllers working without pay amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.
Forty major airports, including Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Houston, and Los Angeles, are facing flight reductions starting at four percent and rising to ten percent next week if no funding deal is reached. The shutdown, now nearing six weeks, has left thousands of federal employees either furloughed or unpaid.
According to FlightAware, about three percent of US flights were canceled, while 94 percent departed on time. Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, Chicago O’Hare, and Denver airports were hit the hardest. Airlines including American, Delta, and Southwest announced hundreds of daily cancellations.
Travelers are beginning to feel the strain as the holiday season approaches. “This is hurting a lot of people,” said a passenger at LaGuardia Airport. Industry leaders warn of severe disruptions if the standoff continues into Thanksgiving.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed Democrats for the deadlock, while Democrats criticized Republican-led budget plans. Despite growing frustration, the Senate has repeatedly failed to pass a short-term funding bill.
