US government shutdown prompts flight cuts

Hundreds of flights which were scheduled to take place on November 7th have been cancelled at airports in the US, as the Federal Aviation Administration’s eyes a 10% reduction in flights amid a government shutdown, according to AP.

The US announced that the measure is meant to take pressure off federal employees that have been unpaid and overworked, which has led to concerning no-shows in air traffic controllers that could jeopardise the safety of air travel.

The process of reductions will be phased for airlines, with 4% of the flights initially being cut, before the full 10% is implemented.