More than 2,000 flights canceled on Sunday, while Duffy warns it could get worse
Over 2,200 flights were canceled on Sunday as nationwide air travel chaos worsened, with Secretary Sean Duffy warning the situation could deteriorate further.
The nationwide air travel crisis continued into Sunday after thousands of flights were canceled or delayed the previous day. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) restricted operations at 40 major U.S. airports due to ongoing staffing shortages caused by the country’s prolonged government shutdown.
According to data from FlightAware, more than 2,200 flights were canceled across the United States as the FAA struggled with reduced personnel at control towers and air traffic management centers. Additionally, around 7,500 flights faced delays. Delta Airlines was hit hardest, canceling over 500 flights on Sunday. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport—the nation’s busiest—recorded more than 570 cancellations, followed by Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, with at least 265.
Amid the growing travel chaos, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that conditions “could get worse” if the shutdown continues. He highlighted that the FAA has been forced to scale back flights while facing 81 staff absences across the national airspace in just one day. “In the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, you will see air travel reduced significantly,” Duffy said on Sunday. He cautioned that if the government remains closed, many Americans hoping to return home for the holidays “won’t be able to get on a plane, because there won’t be enough flights if this doesn’t end soon.”
Duffy revealed that 18 of the 22 air traffic controllers scheduled to work at Atlanta International Airport on Sunday did not report for duty. He explained that many controllers are being forced to make difficult personal choices. “Several are deciding to provide for their families rather than continue their government duties,” he said during an interview with Tapper.
“I want them to come back to work,” Duffy continued. “But the reality is they’re dealing with serious financial struggles. The solution is simple—vote to reopen the government. Then, continue the debates and discussions. That’s the only way to get the United States functioning properly again.”
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