US airlines cancel 1,200 flights Tuesday as government shutdown continues

Airlines canceled nearly 1,200 flights on Tuesday, continuing a trend of over 1,000 cancellations for five consecutive days.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandated a 4% reduction in daily flights due to air traffic control staffing shortages. This reduction increased to 6% on Tuesday and is set to reach 8% on Thursday and 10% on Friday.

Officials are discussing options to end or ease these cuts as the government shutdown nears its end. The Senate has approved legislation to end the shutdown and fund the government through January 30.

The shutdown has led to significant flight cancellations and delays, with staffing shortages affecting operations.