US flights to be reduced to ‘a trickle’ due to air traffic control staffing shortages: Transportation secretary

As the federal shutdown continues, US flights will be reduced to “a trickle” in the run-up to the Thanksgiving holiday because of rising air traffic control staffing shortages, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in remarks that aired on Sunday.

Major airlines were dealing with a third day of government-mandated flight cuts after thousands of delays and cancellations snarled traffic on Saturday. The shutdown, which has reached a record 40 days, has led to shortages of air traffic controllers who, like other federal employees, have not been paid for weeks.