Copyright Newsweek
Celebrities and influencers are among those affected by government restrictions that have cut flights by 10 percent at 40 major airports amid the shutdown. Why It Matters The government shutdown, the longest in American history, has caused widespread travel disruptions. Airlines canceled more than 4,400 flights over the weekend to reduce air traffic in at least 40 airports, as some air traffic controllers—who are not paid during a shutdown—have stopped going to work, the Associated Press reported. Another 10,000 flights were delayed, according to the flight tracker FlightAware. What To Know The travel slowdown has affected many Americans who have traveled over the past week, and millions more could be affected in the coming weeks—including during the Thanksgiving holiday—if the shutdown does not end soon. On Monday, lawmakers have shown more progress on achieving a funding deal. Amid the disruptions, celebrities and influencers have taken to social media to share their experiences with flight delays and cancellations. Jackie Goldschneider, who has appeared on The Real Housewives of New Jersey, said on Instagram that she faced “unavoidable” delays after visiting North Carolina to tour a college over the weekend. Jessi Ngatikaura, a star on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, also shared a flight delay story on Instagram. She wrote that her flight had been delayed four times. When she finally boarded the plane, passengers were told they would not be leaving for another hour, she added. Ngatikaura eventually completed her journey—13 hours later, she said. “Finally made it! 13 hours later but for real shoutout to @delta and all the hard workers for the amazing customer service during this difficult traveling time!” Ngatikaura wrote. Author and comedian Kevin Fredericks wrote on X that he faced a flight cancellation amid the turmoil. “Sunday morning wake up and drive 2.5 hours from Charlotte to Fayetteville to surprise my dad for his birthday. Sunday afternoon our flight from ATL to LA canceled. Rebooked to 10:45. 10:45 delayed till 11:30. Delay turns into another cancellation. Rebooked for 9:00 this morning,” he wrote. Amid the shutdown, 12 airports are halting private jet operations, which could further affect celebrities’ travel. What People Are Saying Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote in a statement on November 6: “My department has many responsibilities, but our number one job is safety. This isn’t about politics—it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay. It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking.” Ed Bolen, the president and CEO of the National Business Aviation Association, said in a news release: “NBAA stands with the rest of the aviation community in calling upon Congress to end the shutdown immediately, and for the NOTAMs to be repealed when the government reopens.” What Happens Next Senators voted to pass a bill to reopen the federal government on Sunday night. Eight Democratic senators joined Republicans to support the legislation. It must now be passed by the House of Representatives and signed into law by President Donald Trump. The vote received support from the trade group Airlines for America. The organization wrote on X: “At a time of record air travel and increased reliance on cargo shipments, it is more important than ever to ensure that our nation’s airspace is safe, reliable and open. Now that the continuing resolution (CR)/minibus package has been offered, we strongly encourage the Senate to pass it swiftly and send it to the House with urgency.”
