Thousands of airline passengers faced disruption across the United States on Saturday as airlines grounded more than 1,300 flights for a second day.
The cancellations were ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as part of the reduction in air traffic caused by the US government shutdown, which began on October 1.
What do we know about the cancellation?
The FAA began cutting flights on Friday, ordering a 4% reduction at 40 major airports across the country.
As of Saturday, more than 1,300 flights were canceled and more than 5,000 were delayed across the country, Reuters news agency reported.
The largest number of flights were canceled at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina, with 130 flights grounded by midday.
Atlanta, America’s busiest airport, as well as other major hubs including Chicago, Denver and Newark also experienced delays and cancellations.
Reagan National Airport in Washington, D.C., was particularly hard hit on Friday, with 18% of arrivals canceled, NBC News reports.
Officials warned that even if the shutdown ends, air traffic operations will not immediately return to normal.
Why is the US government shutdown affecting flights?
During the past 39 days of the shutdown, some federal employees have been temporarily furloughed, while others remain on the job without pay.
Air traffic controllers and many airport security investigators are federal employees, which is why the aviation sector has been particularly hard hit by ongoing staffing shortages in radar centers and control towers at airports.
Many workers are working without pay, some are calling in sick, while others are taking up second jobs to cover basic expenses after spending more than a month without a pay cheque.
Officials say 20% to 40% of employees are not showing up on any given day.
In total, about 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 airport screeners are still reporting for work without pay. Many people were recently told that they will not receive another pay check next week.
Despite the financial strain, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said most controllers are continuing to work six days a week to keep flights running.
Will cancellations make the situation worse?
The FAA warned that flight reductions at major airports will increase to 6% on Tuesday, 8% on Thursday and 10% by Friday, depending on staffing levels.
US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said even greater cuts may be needed. If more air traffic controllers fall ill or stop coming to work, the FAA could reduce flights nationwide by 20%.
Although many passengers have re-booked by now, experts say the situation may soon worsen.
The Thanksgiving travel rush starts in less than three weeks, and even small disruptions can turn into major delays and cancellations.
What’s the latest on the US government shutdown?
The administration of US President Donald Trump is urging Congress to pass a funding bill to reopen the government. Democrats say Republicans are responsible for the shutdown because they have refused to negotiate on increasing health insurance subsidies.
But the impact of the record-breaking government shutdown could extend far beyond airports. About half of US air cargo is transported via passenger aircraft. If flight cancellations continue, shipping costs could increase and prices in stores could be affected.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar