Rep. Steve Scalese, R-La.
The national air travel system is reeling under the weight of the longest government shutdown in US history, raising fears of major disruptions ahead of the busy Thanksgiving holiday.
Since the shutdown began on Oct.
FAA SLAshes Traffic by 10% in All 40 Volume Markets Amid Government Shutdown
The major rubs on the east coast – including Newark, Washington, DC, and Boston – mean some of the highest flights that are delayed, while Actolies-fort proper, Los Angeles and Atlanta also get major disruptions.
Newark Liberty International in New Jersey saw the most flight delays this week among the 28 major airports, with 1,237, followed by Chicago O’Hare with 1,196, according to Flaaware.
This week alone, more than 14,900 American flights have been delayed and more than 450 have been canceled, according to Flaasare.
Flight delays worsen as illegal traffic controllers feel the pain of the government shutdown
Of the four major airlines analyzed – Southwest, United, American and Delta – Southwest and United airlines experienced the highest number of flight delays nationwide this week.
On Wednesday, a flight tracking website reported nearly 4,300 flight delays and more than 170 cancellations.
Dallas-based Southwest has reported more than 1,740 delayed flights, while Chicago-based United has seen 1,730 delays and nearly 60 cancellations.
American Airlines maintained a strong rate of cancellations over the three-day period, reaching a dozen per day.
Air traffic controllers are issuing tough demands as families struggle without payment
Delta, at the time, reported the fewest interruptions among the four carriers, with cancellations decreasing sharply from a dozen on November 3 to a few on November 5.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Wednesday that flight reductions were as inevitable as the closure of air traffic control facilities.
The next day, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) developed an unprecedented plan to reduce flights by 10% of 40 major airports, revealing increasing security risks.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says American flight cuts are inevitable amid the ongoing federal shutdown. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters)
Before the shutdown, the FAA was already facing a shortage of about 3,000 motor vehicle controllers.
That difficulty is as deep as a nationwide labor shortage that is disrupting air travel, causing tens of thousands of delays and affecting 3.2 million passengers, according to airline estimates.
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Now, with Congress on the floor, about 13,000 inspectors and 50,000 TSA officers are working without pay.
As the shutdown continues without a resolution in sight, airline officials warn the ripple effects on the nation’s air network could grow worse, just as millions of Americans prepare to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday.
