A potential disaster looms for US air travel, with the ongoing government shutdown threatening to bring flights to a standstill. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has issued a stark warning, stating that air traffic could be 'reduced to a trickle' if the shutdown persists.
On Sunday, approximately 1,400 flights were canceled, and 2,700 more were delayed, according to FlightAware. The situation is particularly dire in Newark, New Jersey, where delays averaged over two hours.
However, there is a glimmer of hope. Lawmakers are reportedly working on a potential deal to resolve the funding impasse and end the shutdown. The Senate convened for a rare weekend session, indicating a sense of urgency to address the crisis.
Duffy emphasized the dire consequences if a resolution is not reached soon. He warned that air travel disruptions will worsen, potentially affecting Thanksgiving travel plans for many.
"You're looking at a situation where air travel will be severely limited," Duffy stated on CNN. "Many travelers may find themselves unable to board flights as the number of available flights diminishes if the shutdown continues."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced last week that it would reduce air travel capacity by up to 6% this weekend and 10% by next weekend at 40 of the nation's busiest airports. This reduction does not apply to international flights, but airlines may choose to cancel some of those flights as well.
The root cause of these disruptions lies with air traffic controllers, who are not being paid during the shutdown and are reportedly fatigued and absent from work. Duffy revealed that Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth offered to deploy military air traffic controllers to assist, but he declined due to their lack of certification for civilian airports.
The impact of the shutdown extends beyond air travel. Hundreds of thousands of federal workers are not receiving their paychecks, and food assistance programs for low-income Americans are in jeopardy, with the administration only agreeing to pay half of monthly benefits.
Sunday marked the 40th day of the longest government shutdown in history, with Republicans and Democrats at an impasse over funding. Each party blames the other for causing the stalemate and the resulting travel disruptions.
Democrats have refused to support any Republican spending plan unless it includes funding for health insurance subsidies, while Republicans want to provide funding for the without any additional conditions.
President Donald Trump suggested a direct payment approach, where money would be sent to Americans to purchase health insurance rather than going to insurance companies.
Republican senators are working on a compromise package that could break the deadlock, with a potential vote to advance legislation possibly taking place on Sunday.
The situation remains tense, and the outcome will have significant implications for the country's air travel and the lives of many Americans.
