Thousands of flights delayed as US shutdown drags on

Washington: Airports across the United States are experiencing mounting disruption as the federal government shutdown crosses the one-month mark, with staffing shortages contributing to widespread flight delays and long security lines.

The weekend saw some of the worst travel disruptions yet since the beginning of the shutdown. More than 5,000 flights to and from US airports were delayed on Sunday alone.

The White House on Monday blamed the travel disruptions on the Democrats, saying that “Americans are paying the price for Democrats’ sick political games.”

“Democrats have ushered in a full-scale disaster disrupting millions of air travellers’ lives,” it said in a statement.

With no resolution in sight, transportation officials warned that additional delays and cancellations are likel