Thousands of flights delayed as FAA cuts snarl major airports

Air Traffic Disruptions - Air traffic control staffing shortages caused a 90-minute ground stop at Chicago's O'Hare airport [1] - More than 5,000 delays occurred coast to coast at Newark Liberty airport [2] - Over 1,000 flights were canceled for the second consecutive day [3] - Airlines are cutting 4% of flights at 40 major airports due to strain on air traffic controllers working without pay [3] Safety and Operational Concerns - The National Air Traffic Controllers Association warns of growing safety risks due to the shutdown [4] - The union indicates it will take time to get all controllers back in place even after the government reopens [6] Travel Alternatives and Impact - One-way car reservations are up more than 20% compared to last year, indicating a shift to road travel [5] - Mandated cancellations are set to hit 10% and could potentially jump to 15-20%, threatening Thanksgiving travel [5] - Nearly 1,000 cancellations are already lined up for the next day, potentially marking the third consecutive day of cancellations at that level [6]