Flights in Turmoil: Why Air Travel Woes Won't End Soon

The government shutdown has caused major problems for air travel, and things won't get better quickly. Air traffic controllers, who haven't been paid in weeks, are taking time off. This has led to many flights being delayed or canceled. The situation is especially bad at major airports, like those in New York. To make things worse, airlines are being asked to cut flights by 10%. But this might not help much. Experts say the problem is too big. Even if the government reopens soon, it will take time for things to return to normal. Airlines rely on complex schedules. When things go wrong, it takes days to fix. The shutdown is different from other problems, like bad weather or tech issues. It affects every airline and every airport. The effects have been building up for weeks. Even after the shutdown ends, it will take time for air traffic controllers to return to work fully. Thanksgiving is coming, and many people will be traveling. This could make things even worse. Airlines are already struggling. The situation shows how important air traffic controllers are. Without them, the whole system can break down.