US Airlines Cancel Over 2,700 Flights Amid Government Shutdown
On Sunday, U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,700 flights, primarily due to the federal government shutdown and the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) directive to reduce air traffic.
The shutdown’s impact extended into the third day, disrupting operations at 40 of the busiest airports nationwide. The FAA ordered flight reductions after many air traffic controllers, unpaid for almost a month, stopped reporting to work.
Travelers faced significant delays, with nearly 10,000 flight delays reported on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware, a site tracking air travel disruptions.
Airport Scenes During Disruptions
- Passengers waited in long lines at Chicago O’Hare International Airport to check in for American Airlines flights.
- Lines also formed at Detroit Metropolitan Airport and the TSA security checkpoint at LaGuardia Airport in New York City.
- American Eagle and American Airlines planes remained parked at gates at LaGuardia Airport, reflecting the flight cancellations.
[translate:WASHINGTON (AP)] — U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,700 flights on Sunday as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air traffic across the nation would “slow to a trickle” if the federal government shutdown lingered into the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday season.
The FAA last week ordered flight cuts at the nation’s busiest airports as some air traffic controllers, who have gone unpaid for nearly a month, have stopped showing up for work.
Author’s summary: The continuing federal government shutdown has caused widespread flight cancellations and delays across major U.S. airports, severely affecting holiday travel plans.
Would you prefer a more formal or casual tone in the summary?