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Air travel across the United States faced severe disruptions on Wednesday, with nearly 900 flights canceled by early morning, adding to days of travel chaos for thousands of passengers. According to the flight-tracking service FlightAware, at least 878 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. had been canceled as of 5 a.m. ET, with another 404 experiencing delays.
The widespread cancellations are a direct result of nationwide FAA-mandated flight reductions implemented to manage staffing shortages, particularly among air traffic controllers. These shortages have been exacerbated by a prolonged government shutdown, which is now in its fifth day of impacting airport operations. Last week, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the FAA would be forced to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports to maintain safety levels amid the crisis.
The airports most affected by Wednesday's cancellations include major hubs such as Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, Denver International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The ongoing issues have left travelers across the country facing significant frustration as airlines scramble to adjust their schedules. On Tuesday, flight cancellations had already reached 6% of all U.S. flights, according to NBC News, even as political progress was being made to resolve the underlying shutdown.
While the Senate has passed a measure to end the shutdown, which is now headed to the House for a vote, the effects on the aviation system are expected to linger. Airlines and the FAA will require time to restore normal operations, meaning delays and cancellations could continue for several more days. The situation highlights the fragility of the national airspace system when faced with staffing pressures compounded by political gridlock, creating a ripple effect that disrupts travel for both business and leisure passengers nationwide.
