Sat Nov 08 23:44:54 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:
US Air Travel Plunges into Chaos as Shutdown Cripples Air Traffic Control
Washington D.C. – November 9, 2025 – The US aviation system is facing severe disruptions as a government shutdown forces air traffic controllers to work without pay, leading to staffing shortages and widespread flight cancellations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported on Saturday, November 8th, that air traffic control issues are impacting 25 airports and centers, causing delays in at least 12 major US cities including Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York.
On Saturday, airlines cancelled 1,330 flights, marking the second day of government-mandated flight reductions. The FAA has instructed airlines to cut 4% of daily flights at 40 major airports due to safety concerns, a figure set to rise to 6% on Tuesday and 10% by November 14th.
Delays are already significant, with Atlanta experiencing an average delay of 337 minutes. Over 5,450 flights were delayed on Saturday, following 7,000 delays and 1,025 cancellations on Friday. The cuts affect major carriers like American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford noted that a significant percentage (20-40%) of controllers have been absent in recent days. Senator Ted Cruz, chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, attributed the issues to pilot fatigue caused by air traffic controller errors during the shutdown, reporting over 500 voluntary safety reports.
With 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners working without pay for weeks, absenteeism is rising. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned of potential 20% air traffic cuts if controller shortages worsen.
The Trump administration blames Senate Democrats for the shutdown, while Democrats accuse Republicans of refusing to negotiate over health insurance subsidies. The ongoing political deadlock is creating increasing chaos within the aviation system, leaving travelers stranded and the industry bracing for further disruptions.
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