Watch live: Senate gavel after vote to end federal government shutdown

Air travelers may face more frustration as busy U.S. airports need to meet a higher Federal Aviation Administration target for reducing flights Tuesday after thousands were already canceled to reduce demand on the nation’s aviation system during the government shutdown.

The Senate is scheduled to meet at 3 p.m. ET. Watch in the player above.

The Federal Aviation Administration said absences and signs of stress among traffic controllers, who have not been paid in more than a month, made it necessary to cut flights in the name of public safety, and last week it ordered domestic airlines to cancel 4% of their flights at 40 major U.S. airports. After more than 7,900 flights were canceled since Friday, the flight reduction target rose to 6% on Tuesday and again to 10% on Friday.

Nearly 1,200 flights were canceled Tuesday, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks air travel disruptions. It was not clear exactly how many additional flights would have to be canceled for today, but there are fewer flights scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Bad weather conditions increase cancellations at some airports.

The average cancellation rate over the past few days has already exceeded Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. The Federal Aviation Administration also expanded flight restrictions on Monday, barring business jets and many private flights from using dozens of airports already subject to commercial flight limits.

However, control shortages continued to cause flight delays, including one of about five hours for arriving flights Monday evening to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, as wintry weather added to staffing-related disruptions earlier in the day. The Federal Aviation Administration warned that staffing at more than a dozen towers and control centers could delay plane departures for Phoenix, San Diego, the New York area and Houston, among other cities.

Freezing weather in parts of the country on Tuesday could cause further delays and cancellations.

The Senate passed legislation Monday to reopen the government, but the bill still needs House approval and its final passage could take days. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy clarified last week that flight reductions will continue until the FAA sees improvement in safety metrics after staffing levels stabilize at its air traffic control facilities.

Many planes also aren’t where they’re supposed to be, which could slow airlines’ return to normal operations even after the FAA lifts the order, said Mike Taylor, who leads research on airports and airlines at J.D. Power.

Todd Walker said he missed his mother’s 80th birthday when his flight was canceled over the weekend.
He added: “All of this has real negative consequences for millions of Americans, and is unnecessary and 100% avoidable.”

The FAA has been criticized after its original order only applied to a very small subsection of private aircraft. But some want to see more achievements.

The Patriotic Millionaires, a group of wealthy Americans who demand more progressive taxes, are calling for all private jets to be grounded during the shutdown.

“The rich are enjoying their travels while ordinary Americans can’t get to grandma’s bed in time,” said Erica Payne, its founder and president.

She added that none of her members who are still flying privately have reported cancellations or delays since the FAA order went into effect.

Tuesday marks the second missed pay day for probationers. Some have begun to stop working, citing stress and the need to take on second jobs.

It’s unclear how quickly controllers might be paid once the shutdown ends, as it took more than two months to get full pay after the 35-day shutdown ended in 2019, said Nick Daniels, president of the National Association of Air Traffic Controllers.

President Donald Trump took to social media on Monday to pressure observers to “GET BACK TO WORK NOW!!!” He called for a $10,000 bonus for those who stayed on the job and suggested paying salaries to those who did not.

Daniels said the closure has made the difficult jobs of observers more stressful, leading to burnout and increased risks. He said that the number of those retiring or resigning is “increasing” day by day.

Yamat reported from Las Vegas and Funk reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writers Christopher L. Keller in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Ken Sweet, Wyatt Grantham Phillips and Michael R. Sisak in New York; Stephen Groves and Kevin Freking in Washington; John Sewer in Toledo, Ohio, and Haley Golden in Seattle contributed to this report.