Govt shutdown crippling U.S. airports; thousands of flights delayed, cancelled

(The Center Square) – As the government shutdown drags into its 38th day and forced flight reductions begin taking effect, the number of daily flight cancellations Americans are experiencing has skyrocketed. By noon Friday, airlines had slashed 850 flights within, into, or out of the United States – quadruple the number of cancellations made the previous day. The numbers will only increase over the coming days as 40 major U.S. airports implement the Federal Aviation Administration’s order to reduce flight volume by 10%, a necessary safety measure as staffing shortages become more severe.