Thanksgiving Travel Chaos Hits Major US Airports

Over 1,200 flights were cancelled across the United States on Friday. This massive disruption was caused by a nationwide government shutdown. The travel nightmare hit just weeks before the busy Thanksgiving holiday.

The flight reductions were ordered to ease strain on air traffic controllers. These essential personnel are currently working without pay. According to Reuters, the situation is causing significant delays at major hubs nationwide.

Airline Operations Face Phased Reductions

Major US carriers were forced to slash their schedules. American Airlines cancelled 220 flights daily. Delta Air Lines cut around 170 flights for the day. Southwest Airlines axed approximately 100 flights.

The most severely impacted airports include Atlanta, Newark, and Chicago O’Hare. Denver, Houston, and Los Angeles airports also faced major disruptions. Data from FlightAware shows delays exceeded 6,800 on Thursday. This was accompanied by hundreds of additional cancellations.

The cancellations represent the start of a phased reduction plan. It began at a four per cent cut in operations. Officials warn it could climb to ten per cent next week. This will happen if Congress fails to pass a funding measure.

Passengers Face Mounting Anxiety and Delays

The shutdown has left many federal employees furloughed or working without pay. This includes vital airport staff like TSA agents and air traffic controllers. The impact is now being felt directly by millions of ordinary Americans.

Travellers at Boston and Newark airports faced average delays of over two hours. Those at Chicago’s O’Hare and Washington’s Reagan National experienced waits exceeding an hour. Long lines and frustration were common scenes at terminals.

“This will get serious if things drag on to Thanksgiving,” one retiree told AFP at New York’s LaGuardia airport. Another traveller, Rhonda, 65, worried holiday plans would be ruined. She expressed concern for the many people being hurt by the political stalemate.

The ongoing government shutdown is creating unprecedented Thanksgiving travel chaos for millions. With no immediate resolution in sight, passengers are urged to check their flight status frequently and prepare for further disruptions during the critical holiday period.

Info at your fingertips

Which airlines have been most affected by the cancellations?

American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines have implemented significant cancellations. American has cut 220 flights daily, while Delta and Southwest have cancelled 170 and 100 flights respectively.

Which US airports are experiencing the worst delays?

Airports in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston, and Los Angeles are among the most severely impacted. Travellers at Boston and Newark have faced delays of over two hours.

What is causing the flight cancellations?

The cancellations are a direct result of the US government shutdown. The government ordered flight reductions to ease the strain on air traffic controllers who are working without pay.

How long are these flight disruptions expected to last?

The disruptions are expected to continue and potentially worsen. Officials warn flight reductions could increase to 10% next week if the government shutdown is not resolved.

Are all flights being cancelled?

No, the vast majority of flights are still operating. Aviation analytics company Cirium reported that 94% of US flights departed on time despite the cancellations.

Trusted Sources
FlightAware, Associated Press, Reuters, AFP, Cirium