Thousands of flight delays and cancellations continue across the U.S. following the end of the longest government shutdown, as the air traffic control system struggles to return to normal operations. The shutdown caused staffing shortages due to unpaid air traffic controllers, leading to safety concerns and an initial plan by the Department of Transportation to cut flights by 10% at 40 major airports.
However, with the government reopening and controllers returning to work, these planned reductions have been scaled back to 6%. The FAA is monitoring air traffic controller staffing and airspace conditions, with a possibility of resuming normal operations if trends indicate improvement.
Despite these adjustments, over 2,000 flights were delayed and approximately 1,000 were canceled as of Thursday afternoon. Airports like Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International and Los Angeles International are still experiencing significant disruptions. Aviation experts estimate it could take weeks for air travel to fully normalize, although airlines are preparing to ramp up operations, especially with upcoming holiday travel. Travelers are advised to continuously check their flight status and contact their airline for rebooking or refunds if their flight is canceled.
