MOSCOW: Around 700 flights were cancelled on Friday at major US airports amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, NBC News reported, citing several US airlines, Sputnik/RIA Novosti stated.
On Thursday, CNN reported that Delta Air Lines, one of the major US air carriers, planned to cancel nearly 170 flights on Nov 7 because of the government shutdown.
Hundreds of Friday flights had already been cancelled by midday Thursday, the report said, adding that American Airlines scrapped 220 flights, United Airlines cancelled 188, Southwest Airlines cancelled about 100, and Delta Air Lines — 170.
The airports affected by the flight cancellations include Chicago O'Hare International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Miami International Airport, and all three New York City airports, the broadcaster reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration has instructed the airlines to reduce the number of flights by 4 per cent, with the figure expected to rise to 10 per cent by next Friday, NBC said.
Earlier in the week, US authorities announced plans to cut flights by 10 per cent due to the ongoing government shutdown, which US President Donald Trump described as a necessity to ensure 100 per cent safety.
On Oct 1, the US Congress failed to approve the country's federal budget, forcing the government to partially shut down. Such shutdowns in the US mean that some government agencies directly funded by Congress must halt operations until a new budget is approved.
The US government shutdown has entered its 38th day. It has already become the longest in history, surpassing the previous record of 35 days set during Trump's first administration.
