Major US airlines slash flights amid ongoing government shutdown Over 700 flights cancelled

About 700 flights were cancelled on November 7 at major US airports amid the ongoing federal government shutdown.

American Airlines will cancel 220 flights, United 188, Delta 170, and Southwest around 100, Caliber.Az reports, citing NBC.

Meanwhile, the Federal Aviation Administration moved to impose broader nationwide reductions as the shutdown left air traffic control operations critically understaffed.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced that the Trump administration would introduce a phased 10 percent cut to flight schedules at 40 major “high-impact” airports, with the directive taking effect on Friday, November 7.

The FAA said the restrictions would be gradually expanded next week and would extend to many smaller airports as well, prompting passengers across the country to adjust or cancel their travel plans in advance.

Earlier, the administration of US President Donald Trump announced plans to introduce limits on air traffic at several major airports starting November 7 and to allow spacecraft launches only during specific hours due to the shutdown.

The federal government shutdown, which began on October 1, has now entered its 37th day.

The shutdown was triggered by Congress’s failure to pass a budget for the new fiscal year.

President Donald Trump has blamed Democrats for the standoff, saying he plans to use the shutdown to pursue significant reductions in the federal workforce and eliminate what he characterises as “unnecessary” government programs.

As a result, about 1.4 million federal employees have either been furloughed or are working without pay, and the shutdown has now become the second-longest in US history, surpassed only by the 35-day lapse that occurred during Trump’s first term in late 2018 and early 2019.

By Jeyhun Aghazada