Copyright The New York Times
Air travel at the nation’s largest airports continued largely uninterrupted on Friday, as the Federal Aviation Administration mandated the first full day of flight cuts to limit traffic while air traffic controllers work without pay during the government shutdown. That may change in the coming days and weeks if the shutdown persists, however, with the number of flight cancellations increasing by increments. On Friday, Sean Duffy, the secretary of transportation, warned that as many as one in five flights may be grounded at some airports by Thanksgiving, when tens of millions of Americans typically take to the skies for holiday travel. Congress remains at an impasse over a deal to reopen the government as the shutdown continues. Here’s what we know about air travel in the weeks to come: Why are flights being grounded? Many of them, who were already working long hours because of persistent staffing shortages, have turned to second jobs to make ends meet through the shutdown. And more may have to seek alternative sources of income next week when they’re set to miss their second full paycheck since the start of the shutdown. How many flights will be canceled? On Friday, the F.A.A. started the reductions by mandating that airlines cut 4 percent of their total flights at 40 of the nation’s biggest airports. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times. Thank you for your patience while we verify access. Already a subscriber? Log in. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
