US flight disruptions worsen: 1,700 cancellations as FAA implements wider cuts

Washington: Air travellers across the United States continued to face widespread disruptions on Tuesday, as airlines cancelled more than 1,700 flights and delayed over 14,000 others.

Despite a Senate vote on Monday (local time) to reopen the government, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) expanded flight reductions at major airports. The agency announced deeper cuts to domestic flight operations at 40 of the country’s busiest airports, raising the mandated reduction to 6 per cent on Tuesday, up from 4 per cent last week.

The FAA said the move was necessary to ease pressure on air traffic control centres, which have been operating with reduced staffing levels for more than six weeks. The agency warned that the reduction could increase further to 8 per cent on Thursday and 10 per cent by Friday if the shutdown continues.

The US House of Representatives is scheduled to vote on Wednesday, and if the measure passes, it will be signed into law by President Donald Trump.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Tuesday urged Congress to swiftly approve a bipartisan spending bill to end the 42-day government shutdown, which has disrupted federal operations, delayed payments, and strained key sectors of the economy.

“If the House does its work tomorrow, we're well on our way to getting air travel back to normal,” Duffy said at a news conference at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, where he provided updates on the ongoing disruptions.

Major travel hubs, including Chicago O’Hare, New York’s JFK and LaGuardia, Atlanta, Washington, and Dallas–Fort Worth, reported the highest concentration of cancellations.

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump said he would recommend $10,000 bonuses for air traffic controllers who continued to work during the shutdown, while warning that those skipping shifts could face penalties.

Both the FAA and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) have reported growing absenteeism, as employees continue to work without pay for the 42nd consecutive day. The FAA said its priority remains maintaining safety while minimising disruption to travellers.

According to data released by the agency, airlines have cancelled more than 9,000 flights since the FAA began enforcing flight cuts last week.

IANS