Cancellations and delays expected as US rolls out deeper cuts to flights

"The FAA ordered domestic airlines last week to drop 4% of their flights at the airports in question, saying absences and signs of stress among traffic controllers made it imperative to act in the name of public safety. After already canceling more than 7,900 since Friday, the goal for cutting flights is set to rise to 6% on Tuesday and again to 10% on Friday."

"Monday saw airlines scrap over 2,300 flights and more than 1,000 flights set for takeoff Tuesday, all due to the restrictions. Though it was unclear exactly how many additional flights would need to be canceled Tuesday, with the average cancellation rate over the last several days already exceeding the FAA's requirement, according to aviation analytics company Cirium. By about 5am ET Tuesday, more than 1,100 flights had been canceled, and more than 540 had been delayed."

"Unpaid for more than a month, some air traffic controllers have begun calling out of work, citing stress and the need to take on second jobs. That has continued leading to flight delays, including one of about five hours for arriving flights Monday evening at Chicago O'Hare international airport, where wintry weather added to staffing-related disruptions earlier in the day. The FAA warned that staffing at over a dozen towers and control centers could delay planes departing for Phoenix, San Diego and Houston."

The FAA ordered domestic airlines to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports, starting with a 4% cut and rising to 6% and then 10% later in the week. Airlines canceled more than 7,900 flights since Friday, including over 2,300 on Monday and more than 1,100 by early Tuesday, with hundreds of additional delays reported. The FAA broadened restrictions to bar many business and private flights at a dozen airports. Unpaid air traffic controllers have begun calling out and taking second jobs, creating staffing shortages that have produced multi-hour delays, including at Chicago O'Hare. Freezing weather could further worsen disruptions.

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