Ever had your flight canceled at the last minute? Across the US, more than 1,200 flights were grounded on Friday as the US government shutdown drags into its sixth week. 😱
Major hubs—Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson, Newark, Denver, Chicago O’Hare, Houston and Los Angeles—saw the biggest cuts. Airlines like American, Delta and Southwest are axing hundreds of flights daily to ease the strain on unpaid air traffic controllers.
Here’s the deal: cancellations started around 4% of all flights, but if Congress can’t seal a funding deal, cuts could hit 10% next week. That spells longer lines, delayed connections and stressed-out travellers just weeks away from the Thanksgiving rush. 🍂
With Republicans and Democrats locked in a budget standoff—especially over healthcare subsidies—vital airport staff are either working without pay or stuck at home. Some controllers are calling in sick or picking up side gigs to make ends meet. Talk about high-stress jobs! 😓
Data from FlightAware shows 94% of remaining flights departed on time, but at places like Boston and Newark, average delays topped two hours. Chicago O’Hare and Washington’s Reagan National logged over an hour in hold-ups. Not fun if you’ve got tight connections! ⏰
Industry leaders are sounding the alarm. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom called the situation “frustrating,” while US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy urged lawmakers to reopen the government “now.” Meanwhile, everyday travellers are left wondering if their holiday plans will survive the budget drama. 🤷♂️
Whether you’re flying home for Thanksgiving or catching a one-way ticket for that study abroad semester, keep an eye on your flight status and pack a bit of extra patience. This travel rollercoaster isn’t over yet—watch this space for more updates! 🎢
Reference(s):
More than 1,200 flights cut across U.S. in government paralysis
cgtn.com
