Over 1,400 flights cancelled across the US as air traffic cuts continue

Flight disruptions in the United States stretched into a second day on Saturday, with more than 1,400 flights cancelled and nearly 6,000 delayed, according to FlightAware. The disruption follows a federal government shutdown that began on October 1, now in its 39th day, which has forced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce air traffic capacity.

Earlier in the week, the FAA announced it would cut air travel volume by up to 10% at 40 major airports, citing fatigue among air traffic controllers who are required to work without pay during the shutdown. The reduction started at 4% on Friday and is scheduled to rise to 10% by November 14.

The continued shutdown has highlighted the political deadlock between Republicans and Democrats in Congress, who have yet to reach agreement on funding to reopen government operations.

Major airports saw significant delays on Saturday. Newark Liberty International Airport reported average arrival delays of more than four hours and departure delays of around 90 minutes. Charlotte/Douglas International, Newark Liberty, and Chicago O’Hare reported the highest number of cancellations.

Delays were also reported at John F. Kennedy International, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International, and LaGuardia, with waits ranging from one to nearly three hours. The situation comes during one of the busiest travel periods of the year, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday on November 27.

Private aviation has also been restricted, with the FAA asking private jets to use smaller airfields so air traffic controllers can focus on commercial flights.

The shutdown has affected around 1.4 million federal workers, including air traffic controllers and most of the Transportation Security Administration’s 64,000 agents, many of whom are working without pay. Unions say some workers have started taking second jobs or calling in sick as financial pressure grows.

The previous US government shutdown in 2018 saw up to 10% of TSA staff stay home rather than work unpaid, raising concerns that travel disruptions could worsen if the current impasse continues.