Transportation chief rules out air travel for many Americans this Thanksgiving unless shutdown ends as flights are 'reduced to a trickle' | Fortune

"It's only going to get worse,"

"I look to the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you're going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle."

"We have a number of people who want to get home for the holidays, they want to see their families, they want to celebrate this great American holiday,"

"Listen, many of them are not going to be able to get on an airplane, because there are not going to be that many flights that fly unless this thing doesn't open back up."

"I think the number is going to be substantial."

Air travel capacity will be sharply reduced ahead of Thanksgiving if the government shutdown continues, making flying impossible for many travelers. A shortage of air traffic controllers unpaid during the shutdown has forced many to call in sick or seek other work, prompting thousands of flight cancellations already. The FAA is imposing staged reductions at 40 major airports, starting at 4% and rising to 10% by Nov. 14, with cuts possibly reaching 15–20% if the shutdown persists. Reduced staffing increases vulnerability to weather disruptions, further threatening holiday bookings and travel plans.

Read at Fortune