Travel disruptions continued for a fifth day as federal aviation cuts remained in effect. Las Vegas was among the affected hubs, with Harry Reid International Airport reporting 26 inbound and 21 outbound flight cancellations on Tuesday. The reductions, which began last Friday due to the government shutdown, are causing widespread delays and cancellations across the country, as per News3LV.
The Federal Aviation Administration is reducing flight operations due to a shortage of air traffic controllers following the government shutdown. On Monday, operations were reduced by 4% at 40 major airports, increasing to 6% on Tuesday. According to 8 News Now, passengers are advised to check their flight status before going to the airport, and most airlines are offering refunds for canceled flights.
More than 1,200 flights were canceled nationwide on Tuesday morning. Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports saw the highest impact, with 24% and 22% of flights canceled. Other major airports in New York City, Newark, Boston, and San Diego also reported disruptions. The Federal Aviation Administration said normal operations will take time to resume once the government shutdown ends. Airlines for America estimated that delays and cancellations are costing the economy about $500 million per day. Many air traffic controllers have left their jobs or taken other work, adding to staffing shortages, as detailed by KTNV. The Transportation Secretary said restaffing and returning to full operations will take time.
