Millions of passengers continue to face flight disruptions due to the ongoing government shutdown. The Senate passed a bill to end the shutdown, but Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that travel restrictions won’t be immediately lifted. Airlines for America stated that it will take time to recover from reduced flight schedules, affecting over 5 million travelers since the shutdown began. The Trump administration has mandated airlines to cut domestic flights by 4% at busy airports, with more reductions expected if the shutdown persists.

Air traffic controllers, working without pay during the shutdown, have faced increasing stress and staffing shortages, leading to thousands of flight delays and cancellations. The aviation industry anticipates record numbers of travelers for the upcoming Thanksgiving period, with concerns over delays and disruptions continuing. Aviation groups are urging lawmakers to both end the shutdown and provide more funding for air traffic control modernization and hiring.

President Donald Trump threatened to dock pay of absent air traffic controllers and recommended $10,000 bonuses for those who worked during the shutdown. Transportation Secretary Duffy supported the idea, expressing concerns about controllers’ dedication. With staffing challenges exacerbated by the shutdown, the aviation industry faces a shortage of around 2,000 air traffic controllers needed for safe operations.

Read more at CNBC: Airlines warn flight cancellations to continue even after shutdown