As Thanksgiving nears, travelers likely will see continuing flight delays even if shutdown ends

"Airlines have canceled more 9,000 flights across the U.S. since the Federal Aviation Administration ordered flight cuts late last week, mostly to ease demand on control towers that are short-staffed during the federal government shutdown. Although the government appears to be moving to reopen in the coming days, airport disruptions, flight cancellations and economic losses won't go away all at once."

"The FAA hasn't put a timeline on when it will ease back on the flight limitations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says the cuts won't go away until safety measurements improve and staffing levels stabilize at air traffic control facilities. Flight cuts won't end until FAA sees safety improve Duffy has declined to share the specific data that prompted FAA to imposed the flight cuts last week,"

Airlines canceled more than 9,000 U.S. flights after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered reductions to ease demand on short-staffed control towers during the federal government shutdown. The FAA increased its target reduction at 40 busiest airports to 6%, and about 1,200 commercial flights were canceled on Tuesday, fewer than recent days. The FAA provided no timeline for easing limits; Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said cuts will remain until safety metrics improve and staffing stabilizes at air traffic control facilities. Nationwide controller shortages predate the shutdown, but unpaid controllers increasingly called off work and sought side jobs, worsening staffing fragility.

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