Travel chaos in US as Trump orders 40 airports to reduce flights
Over 1,000 flights were cancelled across the US, causing significant disruptions at major airports like Atlanta and Los Angeles.
Image: Unsplash
More than 1,000 flights were cancelled across the country on Friday after the Trump administration ordered significant reductions in air traffic to relieve pressure on unpaid controllers working through the ongoing federal government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that flight operations at 40 major airports, including busy hubs such as Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, are being scaled back.
This comes amid a funding deadlock in Washington that has paralysed government operations since October 1, with agencies starved of resources and thousands of federal employees either suspended or working without pay.
Initially, flight numbers have been reduced by around 4 percent, with the FAA warning this could rise to 10 percent next week if Congress fails to reach a funding agreement.
Airports affected
Reagan National Airport in Washington, Denver International, and Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta suffered the most cancellations, while passengers in Phoenix, Chicago, and San Francisco endured lengthy delays of up to four hours.
The crisis has arrived at one of America’s busiest travel periods, with Thanksgiving just weeks away.
On Thursday alone, over 6,800 flights were delayed and hundreds more cancelled, leaving passengers stranded in long queues at security checkpoints and airline desks.
Cost of political gridlock
While officials have assured travellers that it remains safe to fly, the disruptions highlight the growing human cost of political gridlock.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, President Donald Trump urged Senate lawmakers to remain in Washington until a deal is struck, warning that “people are hurting”.
For South African travellers planning connections through US airports or upcoming holidays abroad, travel agency's advise checking flight statuses regularly and allowing extra time for transfers.
Until Washington reaches an agreement, air travel across the United States is expected to remain turbulent - both in the skies and on the ground.
IOL Travel