US airport disruption to continue if government shutdown deal reached

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Travelers should not expect U.S. airport operations to return to normal if an agreement is reached to end the longest government shutdown in American history.

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As of last Friday, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines serving the 40 busiest airports to cut flights as some exhausted air traffic controllers either called in sick or stopped working altogether after not being paid since October 1.

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Last week Transport Minister Sean Duffy said the reduction in flights was necessary to ensure all aspects of the industry remained safe for travelers during a time of air traffic control staff shortages.

“The more controllers don’t come to work day after day, the longer they go without a salary,” Duffy told Fox News Sunday.

Thanksgiving travel will be affected.

He warned Americans planning to visit family for Thanksgiving in the US to prepare for further flight disruptions.

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“Looking two weeks ahead as we get closer to Thanksgiving travel, I think what's going to happen is air travel is going to be down to a trickle as everyone wants to travel to see their families,” Duffy said.

The government order required a 4% reduction in air travel last Friday, 6% on Tuesday and 10% by the end of the week. The FAA order does not apply to international flights.

This led to more than 4,500 flight cancellations over the weekend and nearly 18,700 delayed flights.

As of Monday afternoon, about 1,700 flights had been canceled and more than 3,600 flights had been delayed. according to data collected by FlightAware. About 1,000 flights were canceled on Tuesday and another 300 on Wednesday.

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On Sunday the Senate moved to end of shutdown when eight Democrats voted with all 52 Republicans for a framework agreement that would include funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other programs, as well as back pay for furloughed federal workers. However, the bipartisan agreement did not address the expiring health care subsidies that Democrats fought for.

Final passage of a bill to fund the federal government and pay air traffic controllers could be days away if Democrats object and delay the process.

Trump orders inspectors back to work

President Donald Trump announced this Monday morning. on its Truth Social platform that all air traffic controllers must return to work immediately.

“Anyone who fails to do so will be substantially docked,” Trump wrote, without elaborating.

He recommended a $10,000 bonus for employees who continued to work during the shutdown, but criticized those who came to work sick.

“To those who did nothing but complain and took time off when everyone knew they would be paid in FULL in the near future: I AM NOT SHAPPY WITH YOU,” Trump wrote.

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