US faces 'Thanksgiving travel crisis' if government shutdown continues

Some 500 organisations and companies representing all sectors of the US travel industry have issued a plea to end the country’s government shutdown ahead of the Thanksgiving travel rush. 

It comes as thousands of flights are being delayed across the US due to staffing shortages amid the government shutdown, which began on October 1. 

More than 13,000 air traffic controllers have been required to work without pay.

The US Travel Association is leading the lobby, warning that the US travel economy has already lost more than $4billion (£3billion) due to the shutdown, with losses continuing to 'grow significantly with each passing day', according to Travel Weekly.

This year, the trade body warned that 60 per cent of Americans are rethinking their travel plans for the Thanksgiving period, which falls on November 27.

This year, Thanksgiving in the United States is on November 27, and 60 per cent of Americans are rethinking their travel plans for the period

One of the biggest Thanksgiving celebrations in the US is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which draws in approximately 3.5million people to the streets of Manhattan to watch the event live

One of the biggest Thanksgiving celebrations in the US is the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which draws in approximately 3.5million people to the streets of Manhattan to watch the event live. 

A letter to Congress leaders from the US travel sector coalition lobby reads: 'A continued shutdown is likely to significantly suppress travel demand and spending, creating a real threat to American workers, businesses, and the overall economy.

'Congress must act without delay to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government immediately and ensure full federal operations are restored in advance of the Thanksgiving travel period.'

US Travel Association president and chief executive Geoff Freeman said: 'Air travel's number one priority is safety, and while safety will be maintained, travellers will pay a heavy and completely unnecessary price in terms of delays, cancellations and lost confidence in the air travel experience.

'Congress needs to do its job. 

'The fastest way to restore confidence and restart travel is to reopen the government by passing a clean continuing resolution.'

It comes after one of America's most popular travel hubs, Orlando Airport, came close to cancelling all landings after a last-minute scramble for air traffic controllers. 

As part of the shutdown, federal workers such as military personnel and air traffic controllers, are either furloughed or required to work for no pay.

Orlando Airport came close to cancelling all landings after a last-minute scramble for air traffic controllers

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Thursday evening that there would be 'no certified controllers for a period of time', which would 'prevent landings' at Orlando Airport, the closest major airport to both Disney World and Universal Studios. 

It later reversed the order when enough staff were found, but flights in and out of Orlando faced delays, some up to 90 minutes.

FlightAware, a flight tracking website, said nearly 6,000 flights had been delayed and 1,100 cancelled nationwide on Thursday, impacting 20% per cent of flights at United Airlines, American Airlines, Southwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines, according to Sky News.