US Airlines Cancel Over 2,700 Flights Amid Government Shutdown
On Sunday, U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,700 flights, primarily due to the ongoing government shutdown and the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) directive to reduce air traffic.
Impact on Major Airports
The reduction in flights affected 40 of the nation’s busiest airports, leading to increased disruptions on the third day of the shutdown. The FAA ordered these flight cuts because some air traffic controllers, unpaid for nearly a month, ceased reporting to work.
Travelers Experience Delays
Almost 10,000 flight delays were recorded on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware, a website monitoring air travel disruptions.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air traffic across the U.S. would “slow to a trickle” if the shutdown continued into the Thanksgiving holiday travel season.
Scenes at Airports
- At Chicago O’Hare International Airport, passengers queued for American Airlines flights.
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport saw long lines of travelers.
- Security checkpoints at LaGuardia Airport, New York, were crowded.
- American Eagle and American Airlines planes remained grounded at LaGuardia gates.
Copyright 2025 The Associated Press.
Summary: The federal government shutdown is causing significant flight cancellations and delays nationwide, severely affecting airports and threatening holiday travel.
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