Over 1,700 Flights Cancelled Across US Amid FAA Staffing Crisis and Government Shutdown
Over the weekend, airlines across the United States cancelled more than 1,700 flights and delayed thousands more as a severe staffing crisis hit the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during an ongoing government shutdown. The situation caused significant travel disruptions at several of the nation’s busiest airports.
Major Disruptions at Key Airports
According to CNN, New York City’s three primary airports — Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia, and John F. Kennedy International — faced hours-long delays on Saturday.
“Air travel chaos continued across the United States this weekend as airlines cancelled more than 1,700 flights and thousands more were delayed due to severe staffing shortages among air traffic controllers amid the ongoing government shutdown,” CNN reported.
FAA Statement and Nationwide Impact
The FAA attributed the disruptions to ongoing staffing shortfalls. Many air traffic controllers and federal security personnel missed paychecks due to the budget impasse, leading to reduced personnel levels and longer processing times across the system.
Data from flight tracking service FlightAware showed that over 1,500 flights were cancelled and more than 6,600 delayed on Saturday alone, with another 1,000 cancellations and hundreds of delays reported on Sunday.
Temporary Ground Stops
In response to the worsening backlog, the FAA temporarily issued a ground stop for incoming flights to Newark Liberty International Airport after average arrival delays exceeded four hours earlier on Saturday.
Author's Summary: A nationwide FAA staffing shortage compounded by a government shutdown triggered mass flight cancellations and severe delays at major US airports over the weekend.