Major US airports, including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, are set to experience flight reductions starting Friday due to the ongoing government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing a 10% cut at 40 high-traffic airports to ensure safety as air traffic controllers, who have missed paychecks, report increasing absences. This shutdown, now a record-breaking 37 days long, is causing widespread disruptions for federal workers and essential services nationwide. Impacted hubs also include Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, and Miami. Airlines are working to minimize traveler inconvenience, with United Airlines noting that regional routes will be primarily affected. Passengers facing cancellations will be notified, and airlines like United and Delta are offering refunds for those who opt out of affected flights, even on non-refundable tickets. Experts predict hundreds of flight cancellations in the coming days. Meanwhile, the shutdown continues to strain federal employees and social programs, with ongoing political deadlock preventing resolution.
