Washington, Nov 08 (V7N) — Air travel across the United States faced significant disruptions on Friday as nearly 2,000 flights were either canceled or delayed due to the ongoing partial government shutdown. British news outlet BBC reported that the shutdown has created widespread operational challenges for the aviation sector.

According to the flight-tracking website FlightAware, over 800 flights were canceled on Friday morning across 40 airports nationwide. These cancellations primarily affected domestic flights. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) explained that air traffic controllers are experiencing fatigue from extended work hours, prompting the decision to cancel flights to ensure safety.

Approximately 1.4 million federal employees—including air traffic controllers and park rangers—are currently either working without pay or placed on mandatory leave, as Congress has yet to approve the federal budget.

Major airlines were significantly impacted: SkyWest Airlines canceled more than 170 flights, Southwest Airlines canceled nearly 120, and United Airlines canceled 64 flights. In total, 1,238 flights across domestic and international routes were delayed, while an additional 824 flights were canceled on Friday.

FAA officials stressed that the measures are temporary and aimed at maintaining operational safety while the federal workforce remains understaffed due to the shutdown. Passengers were advised to check with airlines before traveling and to expect continued disruptions until the government resumes full operations.

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