Washington, USA – Air traffic in the United States is experiencing widespread disruption today, with more than 2,000 flights canceled or delayed at various US airports.
This comes after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced
it was temporarily reducing its operations as a result of the ongoing government shutdown.
The agency explained in a statement to Fox News that it had begun implementing
a mandatory 4% reduction in the number of flights during the weekend to manage staff shortages.
Airport congestion
She noted that this percentage will gradually increase to reach 6% next Tuesday,
then 10% by the end of this week.
She noted that this percentage will gradually increase to reach 6% next Tuesday,
then 10% by the end of this week.
Sources within the organization confirmed that the decision came
after it became impossible to continue operations at the same pace.
This is due to the freezing of salaries for some employees and the absence of
a number of air traffic controllers from their posts.
Airlines have also warned that the continuation of the current situation
could lead to a partial paralysis of domestic air traffic if
a political agreement is not reached to end the lockdown.
Political gridlock in Washington
For its part, the authority advised travelers to track the status of
their flights via official websites before heading to the airports.
This is to avoid long waits or unexpected delays.
This disruption comes at a critical time,
coinciding with the holiday travel season.
This increases the pressure on both airlines and passengers.
Observers believe the crisis could worsen
if the political deadlock in Washington continues.
The aviation sector is among the sectors most affected by the current government shutdown.
