More than 1,200 flights canceled, delays persist on Tuesday as nationwide travel disruptions continue
More than 1,200 flights were canceled on Tuesday as the Federal Aviation Administration continues to limit capacity at 40 major U.S. airports, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy saying there will be "massively more disruption" -- including airlines possibly grounding their planes -- if the government shutdown continues into the weekend.
"If the government doesn't open, it's going to radically slow down," Duffy said during a press conference on Tuesday. "If this doesn't open, you might have airlines that say, 'We're going to ground our planes.' That's how serious this is."
Some 2,630 flights within, into or out of the United States also were delayed on Tuesday, according to FlightAware, along with the 1,226 that had been canceled. At least 851 flights planned for Wednesday have also already been canceled, FlightAware said.
The FAA continues to limit capacity at 40 major U.S. airports amid a record-long shutdown of the federal government. Piled on top of that, wintry weather conditions slammed parts of the country on Monday and Tuesday.
On Tuesday, Duffy said flight reductions rose to 6% and could rise above 10% if the shutdown continues into the weekend. But, he added air travel on Tuesday "looks better" and they are "well on our way" to having fewer delays and cancellations.
About 24 to 48 hours after the government reopens, Duffy said controllers will get 70% of their pay, with the remaining received a week later.
New York's LaGuardia Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport had the highest number of cancellations on Tuesday, with more than 60 flights canceled before 5 p.m. local time.
More than 300 flights were canceled at O'Hare on Monday, in part because of heavy snowfall.
Over 2,000 flights were canceled across the country on Monday, with President Donald Trump threatening air traffic controllers to "get back to work, NOW!!!"
"All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn't will be substantially 'docked,'" Trump said in a social media post on Monday.
Trump also claimed he was recommending a $10,000 bonus to air traffic controllers who did not take any time off during the government shutdown, though he did not explain specifics on how that would be done.
"For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU," Trump said.
When asked about Trump's $10,000 bonus recommendation on Tuesday, Duffy called the idea "brilliant" and added controllers who did not take time off during the shutdown should "come to the White House."
"I'm aligned with the president," Duffy said.
ATC Union President Nick Daniels responded to Trump's post during a press conference on Monday, saying controllers "should not be the political pawn during a government shutdown."
"I'll take anything that recognizes these hard-working men and women, but we'll work with the administration on any issues that are out there," Daniels said. "Air traffic controllers have continued to show up during this shutdown. They've endured a longest shutdown in American history, and every single day, they absolutely, not only deserve their pay, they deserve to be recognized for what's going on."
