WASHINGTON – The longest government shutdown in US history has led to the cancellation of over 1,000 flights across the country.
According to US news agencies, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has warned that more flights at the nation’s busiest airports may be canceled next week due to staff shortages caused by the shutdown.
Airport operations have been severely affected, as air traffic control personnel have not received salaries for nearly a month.
On Friday, passengers faced long queues at 40 major airports, including Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, and Charlotte in North Carolina while several airlines canceled flights shortly before their scheduled departure times.
Flights from international destinations, however, have not been affected, although the number of flights at major US airports has dropped by 10 percent.
US news agencies report that if the shutdown continues and more air traffic staff fail to report for duty, flight cancellations could increase by 15 to 20 percent.
The Trump administration has urged Democrats to resolve the funding dispute, while Democrats remain unwilling to negotiate on healthcare subsidies.
The shutdown, which began on 1 October, has also disrupted the distribution of aid to low-income Americans, creating difficulties in receiving essential food assistance.
