Last Saturday alone, more than 2,200 flights were cancelled as the ongoing U.S. government shutdown continues to disrupt air travel nationwide. The Trump administration recently announced a 4% reduction in domestic flights at 40 major airports due to severe staffing shortages. If the shutdown continues past this Friday, that number is expected to increase to 10%
Fortunately, the disruption occurs during the year's slower travel period, but that relief will be short-lived. Thanksgiving and Christmas are right around the corner, and the strain on the airline industry will only continue to rise as the holiday season comes upon us.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy warned that commercial air travel in the United States could soon be reduced to "a trickle" as the number of air traffic controllers continues to fall. According to Airlines for America, which represents the largest U.S. airline industry, 71% of recent flight delays are due to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers.
Despite the shutdown, air traffic controllers and airport security are expected to continue showing up to work, without pay. Many have been forced to take on a second job just to make ends meet.
As the country navigates what has become the largest government shutdown in U.S. history, the outlook for travelers remains unknown. With the holiday season fast approaching, it's unclear how many Americans will actually make it home to spend time with their loved ones.
I hope we can get this shut down under control and that we can get it going before the holidays come. I have a friend who's supposed to fly to Japan in the first week of December. I think it's messed up that the airport security is expected to show up to work without pay
ReplyDeleteIt’s surprising how much the shutdown is already affecting air travel during a slower time of year. With flights being cut and the holidays getting close, how bad do you think things could get for travelers. Adding one quick detail about how airlines or workers are handling the pressure could make the situation even clearer
ReplyDeleteI think what is crazy about all of this is that it is mainly a political issue but this issue has a major effect nationwide in travel and safety of Americans.
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