Over the weekend, more than 2,500 flights across the United States were cancelled as a result of a continuing government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered fewer flights due to reduced staffing, causing delays and disruptions at major airports, including those in Atlanta, Chicago, and New York.
The cancellations began to increase on Friday, with over 1,000 flights called off. By Saturday evening, another 1,500 had been cancelled, and more were already planned for Sunday. Though not every cancellation is due to the FAA order, the effects are spreading quickly.
The main reason behind the flight cuts is a shortage of air traffic controllers, many of whom have not been paid in weeks. Some have taken second jobs or called in sick, which adds to the staffing problems. The FAA has said that flight reductions, currently affecting 4% of flights at 40 airports, may increase to 10% by Friday.
Passengers are feeling the impact. While some have managed to rebook flights, others have cancelled their travel plans entirely. For example, one family cancelled a trip to California, losing money on a holiday home rental, because they were worried about delays and safety.
Experts warn that if this continues, the problems could go beyond just travel. Since many goods are transported by passenger planes, store prices might rise if shipping becomes more expensive.
The government has not yet reached an agreement to end the shutdown, leaving travellers and workers unsure about what comes next.
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