Washington: U.S. airlines are facing an unprecedented operational challenge as a record-breaking federal government shutdown triggers mandatory flight reductions at the country’s busiest airports. The directive, issued by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, aims to mitigate safety risks arising from a severe shortage of air traffic controllers and security personnel.

The shutdown, now the longest in American history, has forced roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners to continue working without pay. The staffing shortfall has already resulted in tens of thousands of flight delays, affecting an estimated 3.2 million travelers nationwide. With the busy Thanksgiving holiday approaching, airlines are racing against time to adjust schedules and manage passenger

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