Airlines cancelled more than 2,800 U.S. flights and delayed more than 10,200 on Sunday (November 9), the most disruptions on a single day since the U.S. government shutdown began, Reuters reports.
Major airlines were dealing with a third day of government-mandated flight cuts along with rising air traffic controller absences, which has caused thousands of delays and cancellations. Delta Air Lines was especially hard hit, cancelling or delaying 52% of its mainline flights on Sunday.
The government shutdown, which has reached a record 40 days, has led to shortages of air traffic controllers who, like other federal employees, have not been paid for weeks.
Millions of people usually travel in the run-up to Thanksgiving, one of the most important U.S. holidays, which this year falls on November 27.
