Airlines are under growing pressure amid the partial U.S. government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration orders deeper flight cuts. Travelers brace for more cancellations on Tuesday.
FAA Increases Flight Reductions
The FAA increases required cancellations to 6% at 40 major airports. This is from 4% last week. Already airlines have canceled more than 7,900 flights since Friday. In addition, cuts increase to 10% by Friday if the shutdown continues.
Bad weather adds to the torture. Freezing conditions in some areas add to travel woes, passengers say.
Impacts on Major Airports
New York airports record heavy disruptions, according to FlightStats, LaGuardia and other hubs have numerous delays, while Chicago’s O’Hare also suffered cancellations. Travelers reroute trips amid chaos.
Domestic carriers adapt routes. They reroute passengers where possible. Nevertheless, total cancellations reach 2,420 in one day. Therefore holiday travel plans crumble.
Also the furlough will hit air traffic controllers. Shortages in the workforce have imposed such measures. Experts predict continued problems after this is resolved.
Progress Toward Ending Shutdown
The Senate passed a measure to fund the FAA. It now goes to the House for approval. Flight issues persist in the aftermath of the shutdown. Recovery will take some time.
Meanwhile President Trump issues threats to controllers, negotiations continue with tension.
Travel Advisory
Furthermore contact airlines directly. Seek refunds if needed. However, patience remains key during chaos.
Officials also encourage passengers to check airline apps regularly. Rebooking options may become available at any moment. In a nutshell, shutdown puts aviation resilience to test. Keep watching for further updates as the situation develops.
