According to a Reuters report, more than 8,000 flights across the United States were delayed on SundayOctober 26) as the 26th day of the federal government shutdown continued to disrupt travel schedules due to the absence of air traffic controllers.

US. Transportation Secretary Sean Darcy said that on Saturday (October 25), there were staffing issues at 22 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) sites, and shortage of personnel is expected to worsen in the coming days, leading to more flight delays and cancellations.

According to flight tracking website FlightAware, as 11 p.m. Eastern Time on Sunday (4 a.m. GMT on Monday), the number of delayed flights across the United States exceeded 8,00, higher than the approximately 5,300 flights delayed on Saturday. Since the government shutdown began on October 1, flight delays have been consistently higher than average. shows that on Sunday, 45% of Southwest Airlines flights (about 2,000 flights) were delayed, nearly one-third of American Airlines flights (about1,200 flights) were delayed, 24% of United Airlines flights (739 flights) were delayed, and 17% of Delta Air Lines flights610 flights) were delayed.

Approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and about 50,000 Transportation Security Administration continue to work during the government shutdown, even though they are not being paid.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said that ground delay programs have been issued due to staff shortages at Chicago O'Hare Airport, Washington Reagan National Airport, and Newark Liberty International Airport on Sunday. Earlier, Los Angeles International Airport also issued a ground stop, but it was later canceled.

The Trump administration warned that flight chaos will intensify as air traffic controllers miss their first full pay period on Tuesday.

Two weeks ago, air traffic controllers received paychecks for 90% of their normal salaries. But the payday on Tuesday will pay out the first installment of their salaries for performed in October.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has a shortage of nearly 3,500 air traffic controllers, and many controllers were already mandatory overtime and six days a week before the shutdown.

In 2019, during the 35-day shutdown, air traffic controllers and Transportation Administration personnel attendance was reduced due to the lack of pay for staff, resulting in some airport checkpoint wait times being extended. Authorities were forced to slow down air traffic in New York Washington.