Some 2,700 flights were canceled on Sunday, including 204 out of Newark, 163 at LaGuardia and 68 at JFK.
Airlines are scaling back flights at dozens of major U.S. airports to ease the pressure on air traffic controllers, who have been working unpaid and under intense strain during the ongoing government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration says the decision is necessary to keep travelers safe. Many controllers have been working long hours and mandatory overtime, while lawmakers remain at a standstill over how to reopen the government.
Check your flight status:
Newark Liberty International Airport
JFK Airport
LaGuardia Airport
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said flights are being cut for safety reasons and staffing shortages.
Passengers' patience being tested as delayed and canceled flights soar
Aside from the mandatory flight cancellations, a runway construction project at Newark Liberty Airport over the weekend also contributed to the delays.
Travelers are worried as Thanksgiving and other holiday travel nears. One woman decided to take Amtrak after issues with airlines.
"I received another email saying that the flight was disrupted and these are my options - refund, reschedule the flight or an airline credit," said Andrea Kowk. "Then, without having selected any of the options yet, I got another email saying that my flight had been rebooked to Wednesday, the 12th, at 6 p.m. So then, from there, that wasn't going to work for me. So at that point, I just started to try to explore my other options."
Even if the government shutdown officially ends, Duffy said it will take time for things to go back to normal.
----------
* Get Eyewitness News Delivered
* More Manhattan news
* Send us a news tip
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
* Follow us on YouTube