EPA/ShutterstockTransportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned that air traffic will be “only slightly down” if the U.S. government shutdown continues, as flight delays and cancellations continue to hurt U.S. air travel for the third day in a row.
As of late Sunday afternoon, more than 2,900 flights to, from or within the United States had been canceled and 8,600 were delayed, according to flight tracking company FlightAware. The longest delays were reported in Newark, New Jersey, with an average of more than two hours.
In a hopeful sign, U.S. media reports say lawmakers are working on a deal to compromise on government funding and end the shutdown.
The Senate was scheduled to convene in an unusual weekend session on Sunday.
Mr Duffy warned that if the stalemate was not broken soon, the impact on air travel would be dire.
“Air travel is going to go down a little bit,” he told CNN on Sunday. He added that travelers trying to fly home for the Thanksgiving holiday later this month may not be able to arrive.
“Many of them will not be able to fly, because if this situation does not restart, there will not be as many planes flying,” he said.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced last week that it would reduce air traffic capacity at 40 of the nation's busiest airports by up to 6% this weekend and 10% by the end of next week. The reductions do not apply to international flights, but some airlines may choose to cancel some flights, the FAA said.
Air traffic controllers have not been paid during the shutdown and have been fatigued and absent from work, triggering cuts to air traffic allowances, according to reports.
Duffy said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked for help from military air traffic controllers, but he declined the request because military air traffic controllers are not qualified to direct air traffic at civilian airports.
In total, hundreds of thousands of federal workers have not been paid since government funding ran out on October 1st. Food aid for low-income Americans also stalled, with the administration agreeing to pay only half of monthly benefits.
Sunday marked the 40th day of the longest government shutdown in history, as Republicans and Democrats have yet to agree on a funding resolution to reopen the government.
Both sides blame each other for causing the impasse and travel disruption.
The White House said Friday that Democrats are “inflicting a man-made disaster on Americans who are just trying to go on life-saving medical trips or get home for Thanksgiving.”
Meanwhile, on Saturday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer accused Republicans of “playing a game with people's lives.”
Democrats have refused to support Republican spending plans unless they include health care subsidies, but Republicans want to fund the government without adding anything.
President Donald Trump suggested over the weekend that money should be sent directly to Americans instead of to insurance companies to buy health insurance.
Republican senators are working on a compromise that could end the impasse in a possible vote to advance the bill Sunday.