Travel chaos ahead 😬✈️
Hey jet-setters! If you’ve got plans to hit the skies in the next few days, buckle up. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has ordered a 10% cut in flights at 40 high-traffic airports starting Friday, all because of the ongoing government shutdown and mounting safety concerns.
Mass cancellations and delays 📉
On Thursday alone, airlines nixed over 650 flights for Friday, according to FlightAware. Major carriers have shared their own tallies: American Airlines is canceling about 220 flights each day, Delta axed 170, and Southwest pulled 100 off the schedule. By Thursday night, more than 5,500 departures were delayed and 160 were scrubbed, leaving travelers stuck in security lines for hours at hubs like Boston, Newark, Chicago O’Hare and Washington Reagan National.
Why the cuts?
With tens of thousands of air traffic controllers, TSA agents and other critical staff working without pay or stuck at home, the FAA says it can’t risk a major safety incident. “We’re not going to wait for a safety problem to truly manifest itself,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford warned. “Early indicators tell us it’s time to act now.”
Thanksgiving countdown 🦃
The timing couldn’t be worse. Thanksgiving is just weeks away, and travel demand is surging. Flight reductions will start at 4% on Friday and ramp up to 10%, hitting both big international hubs and smaller regional routes—though most overseas and hub-to-hub flights are safe for now.
Senate gridlock drags on ⚖️
Behind the scenes, Congress remains deadlocked. About 1.4 million federal workers—from air traffic controllers to park rangers—are working without pay or furloughed. Senators failed again to pass stopgap funding, as Republicans want the government open before discussing healthcare subsidies and Democrats insist the talks go hand in hand. A new vote is set for Friday, but travelers aren’t holding their breath.
For now, pack snacks, charge your devices and keep an eye on updates—this travel rollercoaster isn’t over yet! 🎢
Reference(s):
U.S. set for travel chaos as flights cut due to govt shutdown
cgtn.com
