Travelers are already worrying about upcoming Thanksgiving travel plans as weekend flights were canceled at airports across U.S. amid the ongoing government shutdown.

As weekend travelers faced delays and cancellations on Saturday, Nov. 8, it remains unclear how the flight reductions could affect one of the busiest travel seasons of the year. But the Federal Aviation Administration has said flight cancellations could increase to 10% by Nov. 14.

The nation's airlines began initiating a second day of flight reductions, coming after Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy's Nov. 5 announcement that 40 major airports would initially see a 4% cut in flights, a move to ease pressure on the country's air traffic controllers. Air traffic controllers are among government employees who are working unpaid because of the government shutdown, now in its 39th day.

Airlines were expected to cancel fewer flights on Saturday, Nov. 8, than on Friday, Nov. 7, because of lower overall volume. If the record-breaking shutdown continues, travelers could face a growing wave of flight cancellations, rising to 6% on Tuesday, Nov. 11, and potentially as high as 20%, Duffy said.

Thanksgiving travel could take 'economically devastating' hit from shutdown

Thanksgiving is traditionally the busiest travel holiday and "the consequences of a continued shutdown will be immediate, deeply felt by millions of American travelers, and economically devastating to communities in every state," wrote the U.S. Travel Association in a Nov. 3 letter to Congressional leaders urging a resolution to the shutdown.

The travel industry had already lost more than $4 billion as of Nov. 3, wrote the group, which created a ticker tabulating the cost of the shutdown to the industry – it had risen to $5.4 billion on Saturday, Nov. 8.

"Travel spending during the holiday generates billions of dollars in economic activity, supporting jobs, local tax bases, and small businesses nationwide," the group wrote. "A continued shutdown is likely to significantly suppress travel demand and spending, creating a real threat to American workers, businesses, and the overall economy."

Were flights being delayed on Saturday?

Travelers whose flights weren't canceled on Saturday, Nov. 8, could still face delays. More than 4,200 flights were delayed within, into and out of the U.S. as of midday Saturday, according to FlightAware, an airline tracking service.

In major airports, typically one-fourth to one-third of flights were being delayed, according to FlightAware. At Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, a dozen of 61 flights were delayed as of 11 a.m. ET Saturday, Nov. 8. Meanwhile, 94 of 131 flights, or about 72% of flights, were delayed at Charlotte Douglas International Airport.

Among those facing travel issues: U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, (R-GA), who posted on X that on Saturday, Nov. 9. "Due to flight delays and cancellations, I took the Amtrak train from DC to Georgia. The sweetest people run the train."

How bad could flight delays get?

Air traffic controller sick leave reports could increase further, as during the 2019 shutdown, leading to more concerns about worsening flight delays.

The FAA said Friday, Nov. 7, there were staffing shortages at 10 locations across the country, which could add to the likelihood of delays.

Separate from the cancellations, absences of air traffic controllers on Friday forced the FAA to delay hundreds of flights at 10 airports including Atlanta, San Francisco, Houston, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Newark. More than 5,600 flights were delayed Nov. 7.

Earlier this week, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said 20% to 40% of controllers were not showing up for work on any given day.

Are air traffic controllers still working during the shutdown?

Yes. Air traffic controllers are considered essential employees and have continued working without pay since the federal government shutdown began Oct. 1. There's 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration agents working without pay.

Some airlines have expressed concern that controllers might feel emboldened not to show up for work because of flight reductions.

Which airlines are canceling the most flights?

United Airlines said it would cut 168 flights on Nov. 8, down from 184 on Friday, Nov. 7, while Southwest will cancel just under 100 flights, down from 120. American Airlines said it would cut about 220 flights daily. Delta Airlines did not release a number of flights canceled but directed media to FlightAware, which listed Delta with 52 canceled flights on Saturday, 55 on Sunday, and 50 on Monday.

Overall more than 1,000 flights within, into or out of the U.S. had been canceled by Saturday afternoon, according to FlightAware.

What airports had flights reduced?

Airports with flight cuts included Anchorage International (ANC) to Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW), Miami International (MIA) and Boston Logan International (BLI). See the complete list here.

What can you do if your flight gets canceled because of the government shutdown?

Airlines may contact travelers in advance if their flight is being canceled. If your flight is canceled, you may be better off calling your carrier’s international phone lines because the domestic lines may be busy, Scott Keyes, founder of bargain flight site Going, recently told USA TODAY.

He also recommends using your airline's mobile app for DIY rebooking of canceled flights.

Federal rules entitle airline passengers to a full refund if their flight is canceled or significantly delayed and they choose not to rebook.

If you want to avoid potential delays or cancellations, some airlines are offering waivers allowing travelers to change their flights without paying change fees or fare differences. Major carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, have waivers in place related to the flight reduction.

Contributing: Nathan Diller, Bart Jansen, James Powel, Jeanine Santucci and Zach Wichter, USA TODAY, and Reuters

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Will Thanksgiving flights be canceled? What to know as shutdown sparks nationwide delays

Reporting by Mike Snider, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

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