More than 1,000 flights to, from, or within the US were cancelled on Saturday after airlines were directed to reduce traffic due to the federal government shutdown.
Nearly 4,000 additional flights faced delays, a drop from over 7,000 from the day before, as reported by flight tracker FlightAware.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced plans to cut air travel capacity by up to 10% at 40 of the busiest US airports, citing reports of fatigue from air traffic controllers who are working without pay.
As negotiations continue in Congress to end the stalemate, which began on October 1, airport wait times are escalating. Newark Liberty International Airport is particularly affected, with arrivals delayed by an average of four hours.
The most impacted airports include Charlotte/Douglas International, Newark, and Chicago O'Hare, according to data.
With Thanksgiving approaching—one of the busiest travel seasons—restrictions are also affecting private jet operations, as they are redirected to smaller airfields to alleviate traffic at major hubs.
The FAA plans to implement a gradual increase in flight reductions, starting from 4% and reaching a full 10% in the coming days as air traffic controllers continue to report exhaustion due to excessive workloads.
This marks a significant escalation in the impact of the government shutdown, which is now the longest in US history, affecting not just air travel but 1.4 million federal workers.
Bipartisan negotiations are ongoing to resolve the situation as the travel industry braces for the holiday surge amidst escalating challenges.
