The Trump administration ordered a decrease to air traffic at dozens of airports around the country, citing safety concerns / AFP

An additional 2,000 US flights were canceled Monday as President Donald Trump threatened to dock pay for air traffic controllers who called in sick during the government shutdown.

After Trump ripped absent aviation workers as unpatriotic, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) labor union hailed members working without pay as "unsung heroes" in a statement that called for Congress to immediately end the shutdown.

"Enough is enough," the union said. 

The back-and-forth highlights the mounting strain on the aviation industry as the record-breaking shutdown hit day 41, though a compromise bill advancing in Congress was raising hopes of an imminent resolution. 

The air traffic control system was already under strain prior to the shutdown due to understaffing, and is facing a surge in passengers with upcoming Thanksgiving holiday travel.

Besides more than 2,000 cancelations, some 7,100 flights involving US airports were delayed Monday, according to tracking website FlightAware.

The Trump administration last week ordered 10 percent reductions in flights at dozens of airports, including some of the nation's busiest, due to "staffing triggers."

Trump took to social media on Monday to threaten that controllers who do not return to work "will be substantially 'docked.'"

"All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!!" he demanded on his Truth Social platform.

Trump said he was recommending a bonus of $10,000 to the "GREAT PATRIOTS" who did not take time off during the shutdown.

His statement was posted just as the air traffic controller union was concluding a press conference, timed to the second consecutive zero-dollar paycheck for its members.

Union president Nick Daniels called an emerging deal in Congress a "right step in the right direction."

"Air traffic controllers should not be the political pawn during a government shutdown," said Daniels, who has spoken in increasingly dire terms since federal funding first lapsed on October 1.

A NATCA statement released later Monday, following Trump's social media threat, said controllers "deserve our praise."

"This nation's air traffic controllers have been working without pay for over 40 days," the union said. "The vast majority of these highly trained and skilled professionals continue to perform one of the most stressful and demanding jobs in the world, despite not being compensated. Many are working six-day weeks and ten-hour days without any pay." 

Democratic congressman Rick Larsen called Trump's comments "nuts."

"The women and men working long hours in air traffic control towers to keep the aviation system running deserve our thanks and appreciation, not unhinged attacks on their patriotism," said the Democrat from Washington state.

- Working two jobs -

Prospects for a resolution to the longest shutdown in US history looked brighter on Monday, after enough Democrats in the US Senate joined Republicans to advance a bill to fund the government through January.

However, Daniels noted that after a lengthy shutdown in 2019 it took two and a half months for all controllers to receive back pay.

Meanwhile, "January 30 will loom around the corner," he added, alluding to uncertainty about what will happen after the next spending bill expires.

Daniels was joined at the event by Amy Lark, who works at an air traffic facility in Virginia.

Her family is having to make do without two paychecks, because Lark's husband also works for the agency.

"Yesterday, my kids asked me how long we could stay in our house. Having to answer that question was heartbreaking," said Lark.

She also described increased stress at work because of colleagues who have been up late working as an Uber driver or another job, while others face trouble paying for childcare.

The cutbacks are also forcing travelers to adapt.

"It's a little crazy this morning," said Jack Nicks at Miami International Airport, who said he doublechecked to make sure his flight would be ready for takeoff.

"I have other friends that are flying today. They've already had three flight changes. So it's a little rough."

jmb/sla