UPDATE: The House of Representatives is set to vote this afternoon on a critical funding bill aimed at ending the ongoing government shutdown, which is wreaking havoc on air travel across the United States. As lawmakers debate, thousands of travelers are facing significant disruptions at major airports.
On Wednesday morning, LaGuardia Airport reported a staggering 4% of flights canceled, with Newark Airport also seeing 4% cancellations and John F. Kennedy Airport at 2%. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that without a resolution, next weekend could bring severe travel chaos. “I think we would see significant disruption coming this next weekend, maybe as early as Friday,” Duffy stated.
The commercial aviation sector has managed to maintain some operations over the last two days, with only four staffing triggers reported on Tuesday, a dramatic drop from 81 on Saturday. However, the situation remains precarious, particularly at LaGuardia, where 11% of flights were canceled. If the shutdown persists, airlines may be forced to halt operations entirely. Duffy emphasized, “We might find airlines that have to make decisions, do they keep flying? If this doesn’t open, you might have airlines that say, ‘We’re going to ground our planes.’ That’s how serious this is.”
The implications of the shutdown extend beyond air travel. Nearly 42 million Americans relying on SNAP benefits are left in limbo, while federal workers continue to go without pay. Duffy assured that once the government reopens, air traffic controllers could receive their pay within 24 to 48 hours and would be fully compensated within a week.
The FAA currently mandates a 6% reduction in air traffic, with that number set to increase to 10% on Friday if the shutdown continues. Even after the government resumes operations, officials caution it may take several days for flight schedules to stabilize.
As the House prepares for its vote, travelers are urged to stay informed. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated—without immediate action, significant disruptions to air travel could begin as soon as this weekend. Stay tuned for updates as this story develops.
