US Airlines Cancel Over 1,200 Flights Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown

US airlines have canceled over 1,200 flights on Tuesday as the ongoing government shutdown continues to impact the aviation sector, leading to a significant shortage of air traffic controllers.

According to "FlightAware," more than 1,550 flights were canceled on Monday, with an additional 1,200 experiencing delays. This follows a particularly disruptive day on Sunday, when 2,950 flights were canceled and nearly 10,800 were delayed, marking the worst day of disruptions since the shutdown began on October 1.

US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy noted that between 15 and 20 air traffic controllers are retiring daily due to the lack of pay, compared to an average of just four under normal circumstances. This situation prompted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to issue directives to reduce daily flights by 4% at approximately 40 major airports, including Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, and Houston.

The government shutdown, now entering its sixth week, poses risks to national security and essential services, with potential for further disruptions if a new funding agreement is not reached in the coming days.