Picture this: you re all set for your Thanksgiving getaway when your flight gets canceled at the gate ✈️. Thats the reality facing many travelers as the U.S. enters its record 38-day government shutdown.
With 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners working without pay, the Federal Aviation Administration has cut 10% of flights at 40 major airports. Rising absenteeism means fewer staff to keep planes flying on time.
Hundreds of daily cancellations are piling up, leaving tens of thousands of passengers scrambling for new routes or postponing plans. As November winds down, the normally bustling holiday travel season is showing real signs of strain.
For young professionals and students planning family reunions or last-minute trips, flexibility is the new travel mantra. Keep an eye on airline alerts, consider flexible tickets, and pack patience along with your suitcase.
Stay tuned for updates as airports and airlines navigate this shutdown-induced turbulence. Safe travels… or as safe as they can get these days! 🚀
Reference(s):
U.S. flight cuts disrupt travel, government shutdown strains airports
cgtn.com
