Nearly 3,500 U.S. flights were cancelled Sunday as the shutdown concluded its 40th day. Air traffic tracking website FlightAware<\/a> reported 1,595 cancellations and 1,440 delays by 8 a.m. Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Senate took a first step toward ending the shutdown Sunday, but final passage of a stopgap funding bill is likely several days away. Experts have also noted that it will take time for flight operations to return to normal after the government reopens.<\/p>\n The FAA\u2019s mandatory 4% flight reduction to manage staffing at the nation\u2019s 40 largest airports will increase to 6% Tuesday and 10% by the weekend. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox News Sunday that cuts of up to 20%<\/a> \u201cmight be needed,\u201d as \u201cmore controllers aren\u2019t coming to work day by day.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s only going to get worse,\u201d Duffy subsequently told CNN<\/a>. \u201cI look to the two weeks before Thanksgiving \u2013 you\u2019re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle.\u201d<\/p>\n TPA<\/a> has not responded to multiple requests for comment. The airport\u2019s website states that it is \u201cclosely monitoring developments about air traffic restrictions\u201d and asks passengers to \u201cplease check with your airline for the latest flight information.\u201d<\/p>\n A previous statement from the nation\u2019s 27th-largest airport noted that \u201cairlines set flight schedules and will implement changes in coordination with the FAA. TPA does not manage flight schedules, so any changes to routes are determined and communicated by individual carriers.\u201d<\/p>\n Five moderate Democrats joined their Republican counterparts in the Senate in a 60-40 vote Sunday night to move toward passing compromise legislation that would fund the government, but without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies. Senators agreed to vote on extending the Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire Jan. 1 at a later date.\u00a0<\/p>\n The agreement would also reverse the mass firings of federal workers since the shutdown began Oct. 1, and ensure those terminated receive back pay. The legislation also includes bipartisan bills to fund food assistance and veterans programs.\u00a0<\/p>\n However, some Democrats have pledged to continue the fight, and reversing mass flight cancellations will take time<\/a>. Many affected local passengers have turned to St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport (PIE).\u00a0<\/p>\n
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