Post by : Rameen Ariff

As the government shutdown escalates into its 40th day, air travel across the United States is experiencing severe disruptions, leaving many passengers stranded and airports overwhelmed. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has cautioned that without a resolution, air traffic could dwindle to a mere fraction, causing substantial delays as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.

Flight tracking reveals that over 2,900 flights have been canceled, with an additional 8,600 experiencing delays. Newark, New Jersey, has reported average delays surpassing two hours.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun to minimize air traffic capacity at 40 of the busiest airports in the country, initially lowering it by 6% last weekend, with plans to increase this to 10% by the coming weekend. While international flights remain largely unaffected, some airlines may opt to cancel these routes due to a shortage of staff.

Many air traffic controllers, who have not received wages during the shutdown, are either fatigued or absent from their duties, leading the FAA to enforce these cuts. Although Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proposed utilizing military air traffic controllers as a backup, Duffy rejected this option, citing issues with civilian certification.

This shutdown, marking the longest in US history, has left countless federal employees without pay and disrupted necessary services such as food assistance programs. Lawmakers from both parties are exchanging blame for the stalemate, with Democrats advocating for health insurance subsidies in any funding proposal, while Republicans push for government financing without additional stipulations.

President Donald Trump has suggested directing funds to citizens for health insurance rather than to insurance companies, complicating the discussions further. Senate Republicans are currently exploring a compromise to resolve the situation, with a vote on pertinent legislation anticipated soon.

As the shutdown persists, travelers are grappling with growing uncertainty, and experts caution that air travel disruptions may escalate unless a timely solution is achieved.

#Travel #World