Hundreds of flights canceled at US airports amid shutdown
Hundreds of flights at the busiest airports in the United States are being scratched this weekend as airlines move forward with reducing air service due to the government shutdown.
So far, the government-ordered slowdown across the airline industry that began on Friday hasn’t caused any widespread disruptions.
But analysts warn that the upheaval will intensify and be felt far beyond air travel if the cancellations pick up and move closer to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Already there are concerns about the impact on cities and businesses that rely on tourism and the possibility of shipping interruptions that could delay getting holiday items on store shelves.
First day
Here’s what to know about the flight reductions:
The first day of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) slowdown saw more than 1,000 flights canceled, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks flight disruptions.
Over 700 were off for Saturday—typically a slow travel day.
Those numbers represent just a small portion of the overall flights nationwide, but they are certain to rise in the coming days if the slowdown continues.
The FAA said the reductions impacting all commercial airlines are starting at 4 percent of flights at 40 targeted airports and will ramp up to 10 percent over the coming week.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Friday that additional flight cuts might be needed if the government shutdown continues and more air traffic controllers are off the job.
Air traffic controllers have gone without paychecks for nearly a month as the shutdown continues, leading many to call in sick and add to already existing staffing shortages.
Mandatory overtime
Most controllers are working mandatory overtime six days a week during the shutdown without pay, and some are taking second jobs to pay their bills, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association has said.
Most were relieved to find that airlines mostly stayed on schedule on Friday, and those whose flights were called off were able to quickly rebook.
There’s still a lot of uncertainty about what flights will be canceled next.
“I just don’t want to be stranded at the airport sleeping on a bench,” Michele Cuthbert, of Columbus, Ohio, said about an upcoming flight to Dallas.
Rental car companies reported a sharp increase in one-way reservations on Friday, and some people are simply canceling flight altogether.
There’s the potential for higher prices in stores, as nearly half of all US air freight is shipped in the bellies of passenger aircraft.
