U.S. Airlines Hit by Second Day of Flight Reductions as Government Shutdown Drags on

Washington: The U.S. aviation system is facing growing disruption as the federal government shutdown enters its 39th day, forcing airlines to implement flight reductions for a second consecutive day. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has directed major carriers to cut scheduled flights at key airports, citing increased absenteeism among air-traffic controllers and security screeners as the primary cause of operational strain.

On Saturday, approximately 700 flights were canceled across 40 major airports, including Atlanta, San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Washington D.C., and Newark. Major airlines affected include American Airlines, Delta, Southwest, and United, with United canceling 168 flights and Southwest nearly 100. While weekend travel volumes partially mitigated the immed