Travel chaos: US shutdown hits airlines hard as 8,000 flights cancelled; carriers brace for costly holiday ripple effects

The longest federal government shutdown in US history has upended airlines’ holiday quarter expectations, grounding thousands of flights and forcing carriers to scramble for contingency plans as operations across the country remain crippled.

Airlines, which had been counting on a rebound in corporate and leisure travel, are now seeing Thanksgiving bookings grow by just 1% since late October — roughly half the expected pace, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium, Reuters reported. The slump underscores travellers’ hesitation amid the prolonged shutdown.