Data shows flight delays and cancellations are increasing even as the shutdown nears its end.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As lawmakers work to finalize a deal to reopen the government, aviation officials warn that the effects of the shutdown won’t disappear overnight and could extend into the holiday season.
Rebuilding schedules, restoring staffing levels and regaining public trust could take weeks, a reminder of how quickly political gridlock can cripple the nation’s airways.
AIR CONTROLLERS RUN DESPERATE Pleading AS FAMILIES STRUGGLE WITHOUT PAYCHECES
And as the final days of the shutdown drag on, major hubs like Chicago O’Hare, Newark Liberty in New Jersey and Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta were hit hardest by flight delays and cancellations among the top 30 U.S. airports, according to FlightAware data.
Between Sunday and 1:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, more than 26,000 flights across the United States were delayed and another 7,500 were canceled, according to FlightAware data.
FLIGHT DELAYS WORSEN AS UNPAID AIR CONTROLLERS FEEL THE PAIN OF GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
Of the four major airlines analyzed – Southwest, United, American and Delta – Southwest had the most flight delays nationwide this week, while Delta had the most cancellations, according to FlightAware data.
The Dallas-based carrier has reported just over 9,000 flight delays so far this week, while Atlanta-based Delta has canceled more than 1,300 flights.
Even before the shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration was struggling with a shortage of about 3,000 air traffic controllers. With Congress still deadlocked, about 13,000 screeners and 50,000 TSA agents are working without pay.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
That tension has only deepened as nationwide staffing shortages disrupt air travel, causing tens of thousands of delays and affecting more than 3.2 million passengers, according to airline estimates.
