WASHINGTON: Thousands of US flights faced major delays and cancellations on Saturday as air traffic control staffing shortages worsened amid the ongoing government shutdown, which has now entered its 39th day. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported staffing issues affecting 42 airport towers and delaying flights in at least 12 major cities, including Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York.
Approximately 1,500 flights were cancelled and 6,000 delayed on Saturday, up from 1,025 cancellations and 7,000 delays on Friday. Airline officials warned that the growing number of ground delay programs and staffing gaps made scheduling flights nearly impossible and raised concerns about system safety if the situation persists.
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The FAA had already instructed airlines to cut 4% of daily flights at 40 major airports starting Friday due to safety concerns, with reductions set to rise to 6% on Tuesday and 10% by November 14. Ground delay programs were imposed at nine airports on Saturday, with flights from Atlanta — one of the busiest hubs — delayed by an average of 282 minutes. Major carriers, including American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United, were forced to cancel hundreds of flights under the mandate, alongside additional cancellations caused by staffing shortages.
During Senate debates, lawmakers highlighted safety risks stemming from controller fatigue. Senator Ted Cruz reported that pilots filed more than 500 voluntary safety reports since the shutdown began. With 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners working without pay, absenteeism has risen sharply. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that further cuts may be necessary if more controllers fail to report for duty.
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Bipartisan talks to end the shutdown have reportedly made some progress, but no deal has been reached, and the Senate plans a rare Sunday session to resume negotiations. Meanwhile, the Trump administration continues to pressure Senate Democrats to support a “clean” funding bill, while Democrats blame Republicans for stalling over health insurance subsidies.