Thousands of flights canceled over weekend as shutdown drags into day 40

Flight cancelations, delays frustrating travelers

As of Monday evening, FlightAware reported more than 230 cancellations and over 500 delays at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. More than a dozen flights are delayed and more than 110 more are already canceled for Tuesday.

ATLANTA - Travel headaches are piling up at the world’s busiest airport as the government shutdown stretches into another week.

What we know:

More than 800 flights into and out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport were canceled over the weekend, according to FlightAware, while more than 1,500 were delayed. Officials say a shortage of air traffic controllers triggered the widespread disruptions.

To address the growing number of absences, the Federal Aviation Administration has ordered airlines to reduce flights at the nation’s 40 busiest airports. The cuts started at 4% last week, will increase to 6% on Tuesday, and are expected to reach 10% by Friday.

As of Monday evening, FlightAware reported more than 230 cancellations and over 500 delays at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. More than a dozen flights are delayed and more than 110 more are already canceled for Tuesday.

What they're saying:

"Was supposed to fly out this morning at 10 a.m. that was canceled," said frustrated traveler Jason Julio. He and his son have been trying to get home to New Jersey since Sunday.

"You book a trip to have a good time and make memories," Julio said. "These are the last types of memories you want to have."

Flights continue to be cut in and out of Atlanta

Travel headaches are piling up at the world’s busiest airport as the government shutdown stretches into another week.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told CNN that 18 of the 22 air traffic controllers scheduled to work in Atlanta on Saturday didn’t show up.

"As we get closer to Thanksgiving travel, I think what's going to happen is you're going to have air travel slow to a trickle, as everyone wants to travel to see their families," he said.

SEE ALSO:

• FAA cuts flights amid shutdown strain: How it will impact Atlanta’s airport
• Tracking delays, cancellations at Atlanta airport as FAA reductions begin
• Ground stop at Atlanta airport adds to delays, cancellations Saturday
• Atlanta airport delays, cancellations on Monday amid shutdown
• Hopelessness’ among air traffic controllers as government shutdown
• FAA airspace closures: How each airline is responding
• Government shutdown latest: Senators working through the weekend; 1,000 flights canceled

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association says the ongoing shutdown is to blame.

"Congress must act immediately and end the government shutdown, and ensure that all individuals who have not been paid during this prolonged closure receive their compensation," said Nick Daniels, president of the union.

Even with the phased flight cuts, the weekend was chaotic at airports across the country because of staffing shortages and weather issues.

Rabbi Paula Mack Drill said the travel mess has even affected a group of female rabbis attending a retreat in Georgia.

"So far, at least a dozen of us have had to cancel because there was no way to get in from all around the country and internationally," Drill said.

Josh Poley and his family flew from Omaha, Nebraska, to Atlanta, only to learn midair that their connecting flight to Philadelphia had been canceled.

"When we landed, we found out it was cancelled," Poley said. The airline is putting them up in a hotel overnight, but the delay means he and his wife will miss work Tuesday, and their children will miss school. "If we’d known, we wouldn’t have gotten on the flight this morning. We would’ve stayed in Omaha and then left on the next flight that was fully available," he said.