Airports across the U.S. are facing chaos as the government shutdown continues to disrupt air travel.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Friday that flight cancellations could hit 20% if federal operations remain halted.
“If this shutdown doesn’t end relatively soon, the consequence is that more controllers don’t come to work,” Duffy told Fox News. “I don’t want to see that.”
The Federal Aviation Administration has begun slashing routes at the nation’s busiest airports.
The first cuts began with four percent of flights today, with the percentage set to rise to 10 percent by next Friday.
Airline hubs, such as Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, and Charlotte, are expected to experience the most significant disruptions. Major cities, including New York, Houston, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., will also be affected.
Airlines are scrambling to adjust schedules and preemptively cancel flights to cope with staffing shortages.
The uncertainty is leaving travelers anxious and unsure whether their trips will proceed as planned.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett warned of a looming economic fallout.
“If the air travel thing goes south for another week or two, you could say that they would have at least a near-term downturn,” Hassett told Fox Business.
The FAA says the cutbacks are necessary due to a shortage of air traffic controllers who cannot report to work without pay.
The reductions are aimed at maintaining safety while minimizing disruption, according to the Daily Mail.
Travelers are advised to check their flight status frequently and prepare for potential delays. Industry insiders say the situation is unprecedented in modern American aviation.
The disruptions come at a time when Americans rely heavily on air travel for business, family, and holiday plans. The risk of cascading delays grows with each day the government remains closed.
Airline executives have described the ongoing situation as critical. They say the FAA’s order, combined with unpaid staff shortages, could produce weeks of chaos in the skies.
Passengers are bracing for longer lines, delays, and uncertainty. Experts warn that even minor issues could multiply quickly as fewer controllers are available to manage air traffic.
The Transportation Department emphasized that the cutbacks are not arbitrary.
Safety is paramount, and officials say the reductions are meant to prevent accidents and maintain operational control despite the shutdown.
Some airports have already reported significant cancellations.
Officials warn that the total number could rise sharply if the shutdown continues, resulting in severe disruptions to domestic and international travel.
The federal shutdown has once again exposed the vulnerability of critical U.S. infrastructure to political gridlock. Travelers and businesses alike are feeling the immediate consequences of Washington’s stalemate.
