Tourists panic as hundreds of flights canceled in the US from November 7

According to CNN , this government shutdown is the longest in US history, surpassing the record 35 days of shutdown during President Donald Trump's first term. More than 60,000 air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration employees are currently working without pay.

Flights are expected to be cut by 10% at 40 busy air traffic areas nationwide from November 7, as the US government continues to shut down due to lack of operating budget, the longest period ever.

The decision is similar to measures previously taken when there is a shortage of staff in the industry, “but this time on a much larger scale,” said Sara Nelson, president of the International Association of Flight Attendants.

“There are not enough safety, security and support staff who are on furlough. Everything is slowing down. This is not just a pause in a few airports, it is a nationwide impact,” she told CNN .

Even before airlines announced they would cancel flights on November 7 following guidance from the Federal Aviation Administration, the shutdown had already caused delays at many airports over the past month due to a lack of air traffic controllers, who were not paid during the shutdown.

Many passengers also expressed concern because so many flights had been canceled.

Heather Boesch's flight to Boston was canceled after being delayed. Although she was rebooked on a later flight, that trip is still delayed and she is considering "other options."

“When I got the news that the first flight was canceled, I immediately started running through a lot of scenarios,” including whether to rent a car, book a hotel room for the night or inform my family that I wouldn't be home in time for Thanksgiving, she told CNN.

And Heather Boesch isn't the only one.

Julie Charnet, another traveler, is still waiting to see if the Government reopens before buying travel tickets for the upcoming holiday.

“I would love to travel for the holidays, but we haven’t booked anything yet, or made any firm reservations because of the current situation. We want to wait and see,” Ms Charnet added.

Previously, the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) warned that the US aviation industry was falling into the most serious air traffic controller shortage crisis in many years.

As of October 31, the rate of employee absences had reached a record high since the federal government shutdown began.

The New York area, one of the world's busiest aviation hubs, is being hit hardest, with air traffic controller absenteeism reaching 80%.

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