CHICAGO — Traveling by air could become even more of a hassle on Tuesday.
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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is set to provide an update on the state of air travel at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. His briefing is scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has directed airlines to cut back their flights by 6% on Tuesday, with a further 10% reduction planned for Friday.
As of 5 a.m. on Tuesday, O’Hare Airport had already seen 123 flights canceled, with delays averaging around 15 minutes. Midway Airport reported roughly 23 cancellations, also experiencing similar delay times.
The FAA’s mandate for airlines to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports comes in response to staffing shortages and stress among air traffic controllers, emphasizing the need to prioritize public safety.
However, it remains uncertain just how many more flights will face cancellation on Tuesday. Aviation analytics firm Cirium reports that the recent average cancellation rates have already surpassed the FAA’s specified targets.
Darragh Hallina told ABC7 that he hopes the third time is a charm; he’s been trying fly to New York City since Sunday.
“On Sunday we went to the airport at 8 a.m., our flight was canceled on the way to the airport. We were stuck at the airport for five to six hours. So, we tried to get a new flight with the same company but that one got cancelled as well,” Hallina said.
However, controller shortages continued to lead to flight delays, including one of about five hours for arriving flights Monday evening at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, where wintry weather added to staffing-related disruptions earlier in the day.
The Senate passed legislation Monday to reopen the government, but the bill still needs to clear the House and final passage could be days away. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made clear last week that flight cuts will remain until the FAA sees staffing levels stabilize at its air traffic control facilities.
Tuesday marks the second missed payday for controllers. Some have started calling out of work, citing stress and the need to take on second jobs.
READ ALSO | Over 1,600 flights canceled Monday as Trump tells air traffic controllers: ‘Get back to work, NOW’
It’s unclear how quickly controllers might be paid once the shutdown ends – it took more than two months to receive full back pay after the 35-day shutdown that ended in 2019, said Nick Daniels, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
President Donald Trump took to social media on Monday to pressure controllers to “get back to work, NOW!!!” He called for a $10,000 bonus for those who’ve stayed on the job and suggested docking pay for those who haven’t.
Daniels said the shutdown has made controllers’ demanding jobs even more stressful, leading to fatigue and increased risks. He said the number who are retiring or quitting is “growing” by the day.
READ ALSO | Senate approves bill to end the shutdown, sending it to the House
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