Flights at 40 major airports were canceled as the US government shutdown fuels staffing shortages among air traffic controllers and baggage handlers.

Tens of thousands of airline passengers faced disruption across the United States on Saturday as airlines grounded more than 1,300 flights for a second day.

The cancellations were ordered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as part of a mandate to cut air traffic because of the US government shutdown, which began on October 1.

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The FAA begancutting flights on Friday, ordering a 4% reduction at 40 major airports across the country.

By Saturday, more than 1,300 flights had been canceled, and over 5,000 were delayed nationwide, Reuters news agency reported.

Charlotte Douglas International Airport in North Carolina saw the highest number of cancellations, with 130 flights grounded by mid-afternoon.

Other major hubs — including Atlanta, the busiest airport in the US, as well as Chicago, Denver, and Newark — also experienced delays and cancellations.

Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, was hit especially hard on Friday, with 18% of its arrivals canceled, NBC News reported.

Officials warned that even if the shutdown ends, air traffic operations won’t return to normal immediately.