Air travellers across the United States are bracing for extended disruption as flight cancellations and delays continue to mount, with the Federal Aviation Administration implementing increasingly severe restrictions at major airports.
Deepening Cuts and Mounting Cancellations
As of Tuesday morning, more than 1,100 flights had been cancelled nationwide, with an additional 540 experiencing delays. This comes as the FAA escalates its flight reduction targets, demanding airlines cut 6% of scheduled flights on Tuesday – up from 4% previously – with plans to increase cuts to 10% by Friday.
The aviation authority initially ordered domestic carriers to reduce flights by 4% last week, citing concerning absences and signs of stress among air traffic controllers. Since Friday, airlines have already cancelled more than 7,900 flights, with Monday alone seeing over 2,300 cancellations.
According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, the average cancellation rate in recent days has already exceeded the FAA's requirements, though the exact number of additional flights needing cancellation on Tuesday remained unclear.
Expanding Restrictions and Staffing Crisis
The FAA broadened its flight restrictions on Monday, now prohibiting business jets and many private flights from using a dozen airports already subject to commercial flight limits. This move came after initial criticism that the order only affected a small portion of private aircraft.
Unpaid for over a month, air traffic controllers have increasingly called out of work, citing financial stress and the need to seek secondary employment. This staffing crisis has directly contributed to significant delays, including one approximately five-hour hold for arriving flights at Chicago O'Hare International Airport on Monday evening.
The FAA has warned that staffing shortages at more than a dozen control towers and centres could delay departures to major destinations including Phoenix, San Diego, the New York area, and Houston.
Political Pressure and Personal Impact
While the Senate passed legislation to reopen the government on Monday, the bill still requires House approval, meaning final passage could be days away. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy emphasised last week that flight reductions would remain until staffing levels stabilise at air traffic control facilities.
The human impact of the disruptions is becoming increasingly apparent. Todd Walker reported missing his mother's 80th birthday when his flight was cancelled over the weekend. "All of this has real negative consequences for millions of Americans, and it's 100% unnecessary and avoidable," he said.
Meanwhile, the group Patriotic Millionaires has called for all private jets to be grounded during the shutdown. "Rich people are taking their joyrides while average Americans don't make it to grandma's bedside in time," said founder and president Erica Payne.
Tuesday marks the second missed payday for controllers, with National Air Traffic Controllers Association president Nick Daniels noting that retirements and resignations are "growing by the day". He warned that the shutdown has made controllers' demanding jobs even more stressful, leading to fatigue and increased safety risks.
Freezing weather conditions in parts of the country on Tuesday threaten to compound the staffing-related disruptions, potentially causing further delays and cancellations for travellers already facing significant uncertainty.
