The US government shutdown has led to a significant increase in flight delays and cancellations, with over 2,800 flights canceled and more than 10,200 delayed on Sunday alone. This marks the worst day for disruptions since the start of the shutdown, which has now reached a record 40 days. The shortage of air traffic controllers, who have not been paid for weeks, has forced airlines to cut flights, with major carriers such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines affected.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has instructed airlines to cut 4% of daily flights at 40 major airports due to air traffic control safety concerns, with reductions set to reach 6% on Tuesday and 10% by November 14. US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that the situation will worsen in the run-up to Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel periods in the US. “It’s only going to get worse… the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle,” he said.

The shutdown has already had a significant impact on air travel, with millions of passengers affected. Airlines for America, which represents major carriers, estimates that over four million passengers’ travel plans have been disrupted since October 1. The economic impact is also being felt, with a daily loss of $285 million to $580 million estimated by next Friday. White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett has warned that the disruption to air travel could hit US economic growth, particularly during the Thanksgiving period.

The US Senate has voted to advance a bill to end the government shutdown, but it still needs to be approved by the House of Representatives and signed by President Donald Trump. Until then, the flight cuts are likely to continue, with United Airlines, for example, planning to cut 190 flights on Monday and 269 on Tuesday. The FAA has reported staffing issues at 12 air traffic control towers, and a growing number of controllers have retired since the shutdown started. The situation is likely to worsen unless a resolution is found soon, with significant consequences for air travel and the US economy.