The main association for professionals in the American air transport sector (Airlines for America) expected the continuation of disruptions in air traffic in the United States, despite a breakthrough announcing the imminent end of the longest government shutdown in the country's history.
In a statement, the association, which represents major airlines in the United States, including "Delta", "American", "United" and "Southwest", clarified that air transport companies that have reduced the number of their flights will not be able to immediately return to their full capacity once the government shutdown ends. It added that it would take time, and there would be effects for several days, calling on the US Congress to work quickly to end the state of budgetary paralysis. The figures show the size of the disruptions that air traffic has witnessed in the United States. The website (FlightAware), which specializes in tracking flights, indicated that more than 1,100 flights were canceled on Tuesday, with airlines reducing their flight schedules by about 6 percent in dozens of airports in the country. Among the most affected airports are "Chicago O'Hare" International Airport and "Hartsfield Jackson" (Atlanta), which are considered among the main pivotal platforms for air traffic in the United States. These disruptions coincide with air traffic reaching an alarming level during the weekend. Last Sunday, nearly three thousand flights were canceled, and more than ten thousand other flights were delayed. Despite a slight improvement on Monday, the size of the disruptions left a state of uncertainty about the period needed to resume air traffic normally. In an attempt to ease the pressure on the system, the US Federal Aviation Administration had asked last week airlines to gradually reduce traffic at 40 major airports in the United States, with an initial reduction of 4 percent, followed by an additional reduction of 2 percent per day, until it reached 10 percent. This measure comes in light of the continuation of the government shutdown, since the beginning of last October, which directly affects more than 60,000 air traffic controllers and transport security personnel. Some of them chose not to go to work instead of performing their duties for several weeks without receiving a wage, which exacerbates the intensity of air traffic disruptions. To address this situation, US President Donald Trump called on Monday air traffic controllers to resume work "immediately." He wrote on his platform (Truth Social): "All air traffic controllers must return to work immediately! Anyone who does not do so will have their salary significantly reduced." The White House resident also confirmed that he intends to grant a bonus of ten thousand dollars to air traffic controllers who have continued to perform their duties throughout the period of budgetary paralysis of the federal government, describing them as "patriots."
