Flight delays and cancellations continue in the United States, with US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warning that air traffic will be reduced to a minimum.
In statements to CNN, the US minister emphasizes that travelers planning to return home for Thanksgiving may not be able to do so. He said that many simply will not find available flights if the shutdown continues.
According to flight tracking company FlightAware, by Sunday afternoon more than 2,900 flights to, from and within the US had been canceled and 8,600 had been delayed. The longest delays were recorded at Newark Airport, where the average wait time exceeded two hours.
Lawmakers are working on a possible deal to reach a compromise on government funding and ending the shutdown, according to US media reports.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had already announced a capacity reduction of up to 6% for last weekend and up to 10% for the upcoming one, affecting 40 of the country’s busiest airports.
The cuts do not apply to international flights, but some airlines may cancel them as well.
Air traffic controllers, who are working without pay due to the government shutdown, are reportedly exhausted, with many absent from work, which is putting an even greater strain on airport operations.
Sean Duffy revealed that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had suggested that military air traffic controllers help, but the proposal was rejected because they are not certified to operate civilian airports.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of federal employees have not been paid since October 1, when the government ran out of funds. Social support programs such as food stamps for low-income earners are underfunded, with only half of the benefits approved.
Sunday marked the 40th day of the longest shutdown in US history, with no compromise yet reached between Republicans and Democrats on how to reopen the government.
The White House accused Democrats of “creating a man-made disaster” for Americans simply trying to travel for health reasons or return from the Thanksgiving holiday.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Republicans of “playing games with people’s lives.”
Democrats refuse to support any Republican funding plan that does not include health insurance subsidies, while Republicans want to provide funding to the government without any other burden.
President Donald Trump, in his own intervention, proposed sending money directly to citizens to buy insurance packages, instead of helping insurance companies.
Republican senators are working on a compromise package that could end the impasse, with a vote to advance the legislation likely on Sunday.
