United States airlines have warned that things will not immediately return to normal once the government shutdown ends, and to brace for more cancelled flights.
Millions of Americans have been facing cancelled flights as air traffic controllers have faced staffing shortages and increasing stress levels amidst the record-breaking federal government shutdown.
The 40-day shutdown, the longest in history, saw air traffic controllers go without two full paycheques, while still being required to work through the chaos, with some having to pick up second jobs to make ends meet.
However, the shutdown is now looking poised to end, after the Senate passed a bill on Monday night and sent it off to the House for a second vote
On the same day this bill was passed, aviation analytics company Cirium, reported that over 2000 of the 25,735 scheduled flights across the U.S. were cancelled, and advocates for the sector warn it won't be business as usual straight away.
“Airlines’ reduced flight schedules cannot immediately bounce back to full capacity right after the government reopens,” said lobby group, Airlines for America.
“It will take time, and there will be residual effects for days. With the Thanksgiving travel period beginning next week and the busy shipping season around the corner, the time to act is now to help mitigate any further impacts to Americans.”
