More than 1,400 flights are canceled Monday, the fourth day of disruptions imposed by federal transportation officials amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
About 5.5% of flights are affected ‒ more than the 4% of cuts presently ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration to offset an air traffic controller shortage. Cuts are scheduled to step up to 10% by Nov. 14, but it's unclear whether a resolution to end the shutdown, which is expected this week, will make a difference.
Not all current cancellations are because of government-mandated flight cuts. A winter storm has slammed the Chicago area, impacting flights at both Chicago Midway and Chicago O'Hare. Aviation experts had told USA TODAY that weather could exacerbate delays and cancellations.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Sunday that air travel disruptions would spread.
"It's only going to get worse," Duffy said in an interview with CNN. "I look to the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you're going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle."
