More than 5,000 US flights were cancelled or delayed as new federal mandates forced airlines to reduce air traffic amid the ongoing government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a 4 percent cut in flights at 40 major airports including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington DC, to ease pressure on unpaid air traffic controllers and essential staff.
Local media reported that the reduction could rise to 10 percent next week and potentially 20 percent if the shutdown continues.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said international flights remain unaffected. The shutdown, now the longest in US history, has also disrupted food aid programs and other federal services nationwide.
More than 5,000 flights in the US are cancelled or delayed on Friday after airlines were told to cut traffic during the government shutdown
Domestic flights at 40 of the country’s busiest airports will be affected as officials try to ease pressure on air traffic controllers
Airports have been grappling with air traffic controller shortages, who are either calling in sick or taking side jobs as they work without pay during the federal government shutdown
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says reductions will start at 4% of internal flights before rising to the full 10% by the end of next week – or up to 15% or 20% “if the shutdown doesn’t end relatively soon” says the US transportation chief
Several of the largest US airlines are assuring customers they’ll be able to get full refunds for the cancelled flights