UPDATE: The House of Representatives is set to vote this afternoon on a crucial funding bill aimed at ending the ongoing government shutdown, which is severely impacting air travel across the United States. Thousands of travelers are currently facing delays and cancellations at major airports, including LaGuardia, Newark, and JFK.
As of this morning, LaGuardia Airport has reported a staggering 4% of flights canceled, with Newark also seeing 4% cancellations and JFK at 2%. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy confirmed that while commercial aviation has managed to operate relatively smoothly over the past two days, the situation is precarious. Staffing issues have seen a dramatic drop from 81 triggers on Saturday to just four on Tuesday.
If the shutdown continues without resolution, next weekend is projected to witness severe disruptions. Duffy warned that airlines may halt operations altogether as early as Friday. “We’re going to have airlines that make a serious calculation about whether they continue to fly full stop,” Duffy stated. “If this doesn’t open, you might have airlines that say, ‘We’re going to ground our planes. We’re not going to fly anymore.’ That’s how serious this is.”
The ramifications of the shutdown extend beyond air travel. Nearly 42 million Americans relying on SNAP benefits are left in limbo, and federal workers are currently going without pay. Duffy assured that once the government reopens, air traffic controllers will receive their pay within 24 to 48 hours and will be made whole within a week.
Despite the FAA’s current 6% flight reduction mandate, this figure is expected to increase to 10% on Friday. Even after the shutdown ends, officials warn it may take several days for flight operations to stabilize. “Data collected over time will determine the timeline,” Duffy noted.
Travelers, airlines, and federal employees are anxiously waiting for a resolution as the situation continues to develop. Watch for updates as the House votes and the impact unfolds in real time. Share this urgent update with anyone affected by the ongoing disruptions.
