Hundreds of US Flights Cancelled as Government Shutdown Escalates

URGENT UPDATE: Hundreds of flights across the United States have been cancelled today as the Trump administration enforces drastic reductions amid the ongoing government shutdown. This move comes as air traffic controllers are forced to work without pay.

DATA ALERT: Approximately 40 airports, including major hubs like Chicago O’Hare, Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, Denver, and Dallas-Fort Worth, are experiencing significant disruptions. The reductions began early today and are set to escalate from 4% to as much as 10% next week if Congress does not reach a funding agreement.

The shutdown, now in its sixth week, has created a bitter standoff between Republicans and Democrats over budget priorities, including healthcare. Thousands of government employees are either working without pay or on furlough, severely impacting operations at vital transportation sectors, including airports.

The FAA has confirmed that the flight reduction order primarily affects domestic flights, but notably does not require cuts to international flights. This means that routes to and from Ireland are expected to remain unaffected.

“As it stands, we’re not expecting any disruption to flights between Dublin and North America,”

said Graeme McQueen, spokesperson for the Dublin Airport Authority. He urged passengers to check directly with their airlines for updates.

Airlines are navigating these reductions carefully. A spokesperson for Aer Lingus stated that they have not encountered significant delays and confirmed that international airlines are exempt from the domestic flight reductions. United Airlines has also reassured passengers that its hub-to-hub and international flights will not be impacted by the current schedule cutbacks.

As the nation approaches its busiest travel period with Thanksgiving just weeks away, the situation is becoming increasingly urgent. Travelers are already expressing frustration. Retiree Werner Buchi commented at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, “This will get serious if things drag on to Thanksgiving.” Another traveler, Rhonda, worried about her holiday plans being disrupted due to the ongoing political impasse, stating, “This is hurting a lot of people.”

The US Senate is preparing for another attempt to pass a short-term funding measure to reopen the government, but with a history of failed votes—this being the 15th attempt—the outlook remains grim. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy placed blame on Democrats, urging them to vote for a solution to the shutdown.

As the situation develops, travelers are advised to stay informed and monitor flight statuses closely. With thousands of flights expected to be affected, the urgency of resolving the government shutdown has never been clearer.