US airlines' daily cancellations top 2,000 for first time since shutdown cuts began |

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,100 flights on Sunday as Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that air traffic across the nation could “slow to a trickle” if the federal government shutdown lingers into the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday season.

The slowdown at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports is now in its third day and beginning to cause more widespread disruptions. The FAA last week ordered flight cuts at the nation’s busiest airports as some air traffic controllers, who have gone unpaid for nearly a month, have stopped showing up for work.

In addition, some 7,000 flight delays were reported on Sunday alone, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks air travel disruptions. More than 1,000 flights were canceled Friday, and more than 1,500 on Sa