Air travellers in the United States should brace for worsening flight cancellations and delays this week, even if the government shutdown ends, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has deepened cuts to flights at 40 major airports, officials said on Tuesday.
The FAA ordered domestic airlines last week to reduce flights by 4% at the affected airports, citing absenteeism and stress among air traffic controllers. The reduction target rose to 6% on Tuesday and is set to reach 10% on Friday. Since Friday, over 7,900 flights have been cancelled. On Monday alone, airlines scrapped more than 2,300 flights, and by 5am ET Tuesday, over 1,100 flights had been cancelled with more than 540 delayed, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.
The agency has also expanded restrictions to bar business jets and many private flights from a dozen airports already under commercial limits. Unpaid for over a month, some controllers have begun calling in sick, citing stress and the need for second jobs. This has led to lengthy delays, including a five-hour hold for arriving flights at Chicago O'Hare, where wintry weather compounded staffing issues. Freezing conditions could cause further disruption on Tuesday.
The Senate passed legislation on Monday to reopen the government, but the bill still requires House approval, and final passage may be days away. Transport Secretary Sean Duffy stated that flight cuts will remain until FAA staffing levels stabilise. Even after the order is lifted, misplaced aircraft could slow a return to normal operations, said JD Power's Mike Taylor. Todd Walker, who missed his mother's 80th birthday due to a cancelled flight, called the situation “100% unnecessary and avoidable.”
Meanwhile, group Patriotic Millionaires is calling for all private jets to be grounded during the shutdown. Founder Erica Payne said, “Rich people are taking their joyrides while average Americans don’t make it to grandma’s bedside.” Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, noted that after the 35-day shutdown in 2019, it took over two months for controllers to receive full back pay, and that retirements and resignations are “growing” daily.
