Imagine you heading to the airport only to see your flight canceled ✈️❌. That was reality for more than 1,200 travelers on Friday as the long-running US federal government shutdown forced air traffic cuts at 40 major hubs, including Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles.
With Republicans and Democrats locked in a bitter budget fight over health insurance subsidies, federal funding lapsed on October 1. Vital air traffic controllers have been working without pay, so the Trump administration ordered gradual flight reductions that began at 4% this week and will climb to 10% next week if no deal emerges.
Tracking site FlightAware reported 1,200 flights canceled Friday, while aviation analytics company Cirium said 3% of US flights were grounded, even though 94% still took off on time. The hardest-hit airports were Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, Chicago O Hare, Denver and Phoenix.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom told CNBC, “This is frustrating. We don’t need to be in this position.” Delta cut about 170 flights on Friday, Southwest axed around 100, and American’s reductions amount to roughly 220 daily cancellations.
Passengers have felt the pinch: delays of more than two hours at Boston and Newark, over an hour at O Hare and Reagan National, and long security lines everywhere. Retiree Werner Buchi, waiting at New York LaGuardia, warned, “It will get serious if things drag on to Thanksgiving.” Another traveler lamented, “This is hurting a lot of people.”
The Senate planned a 15th vote on a short-term funding bill, but like the previous 14 attempts, it was set to fail. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy blamed Democrats, calling continued closure “shameful.” Meanwhile, many air traffic staff are calling in sick or juggling second jobs to cover bills.
As Thanksgiving approaches, this shutdown showdown is more than political theater —it is grounding holiday plans and leaving travelers stranded across the country. 🚨
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More than 1,200 flights cut across U.S. in government paralysis
cgtn.com
