On Sunday, October 9th, more than 10,000 flights were delayed in the United States in a single day, with thousands of flights being canceled. Travelers rushed to their destinations amidst the chaos.
According to data from flight tracking website FlightAware, as of 10 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday, there were over 10,000 flights delayed domestically and internationally, marking the largest flight disruption since the government shutdown. On that day alone, over 3,200 flights were canceled.
During the government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) implemented flight reduction measures at 40 busy airports. With the prolonged mandatory flight reductions and an increasing number of air traffic control personnel calling in sick, major U.S. airlines were hit hard. Delta Air Lines was particularly affected, with approximately 52% of its mainline flights canceled or delayed on Sunday.
Since the FAA ordered flight cutbacks on Friday, November 7th, over 5,300 flights have been canceled across the U.S.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that the previous two days of flight reductions had already caused delays. If the government continues its shutdown, flight cancellations may worsen, resulting in a significant decrease in flights available before the holidays, with only sporadic services remaining.
Duffy mentioned that since the government shutdown on October 1st, an increasing number of air traffic control personnel have opted for retirement. The FAA is currently understaffed by 1,000 to 2,000 air traffic controllers compared to its normal staffing levels.
On Sunday evening, the Senate agreed to debate the funding bill passed by the House of Representatives with a vote of 60 in favor and 40 against, in order to reopen the federal government. Earlier, moderate Democratic lawmakers reached a funding agreement through negotiations with Republicans and the White House.
This congressional deadlock has resulted in a 40-day-long government shutdown, setting a record for the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. During this period, tens of thousands of employees were forced to take unpaid leave, leading to chaos at airports nationwide.