Flights are being grounded left and right. For the second day straight, U.S. airlines have had to cancel over 1,000 flights due to the ongoing government shutdown. It’s a mess out here!
On Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that 40 of the busiest airports would see a 10% reduction in air traffic. This move comes as the government shutdown drags on, now past the one-month mark. Duffy explained that these cuts are meant to ease the pressure on air traffic controllers, who’ve been working overtime without pay during the shutdown.
On Thursday, National Air Traffic Controllers Association president, Nick Daniels, spoke with CNN about reducing flights to relieve the burden on unpaid and overworked controllers. Daniels stated:
“Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford have been talking about the only way that you control and manage risk is by reducing the number of flights.”
“We’re right now operating. It’s no surprise to anyone as the story has gone on that we only have 10,800 certified controllers. We’re 3,800 short of what we actually need of 14,633. Controllers are resigning every day now because of the prolonged nature of the shutdown. We hadn’t seen that before.”
“And we’re also 400 controllers short, shorter than we were in the 2019 shutdown, the issues are getting worse by every day. And we’re taking steps to — steps are being taken to reduce that capacity of the airspace, mitigate risk where we can and put the controllers in a position to succeed.”
“I think Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford are going to have to have close monitor of it.”
“They are taking those proactive steps of putting a smaller level of capacity to the airspace or a smaller number of flights, so that way air traffic controllers are a position to go to work, provide the best service they can. We’re going to continue to show up to the best of our ability.”
“Our air traffic controllers right now, though, are every day — not only to stress the frustration, the fear of this never ending, but also the level of hopelessness that’s setting in, that’s something I haven’t heard an air traffic controller. They’re a prideful group, but their mental health is something that we have to be concerned about as well.”
Here’s 40 Busy Airports Expected To Face 10% Flight Cut Starting November 7
The 10% reduction in air traffic started on Friday, and CBS News sources say that airlines are expected to reach that full 10% cut by next week. This info reportedly came out of a conversation between the FAA, the Department of Transportation, and U.S. airlines.
CBS News also got a hold of a list of the major passenger airports and airline hubs that are being affected, including airports with lots of cargo traffic. If you’re traveling, make sure to check with your airline to see if your flight’s been axed. Refunds are being issued, thankfully.
Here’s that list, in alphabetical order by airport code:
- Tampa International (TPA)
- Anchorage International (ANC)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Boston Logan International (BOS)
- Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
- Dallas Love (DAL)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
- Newark Liberty International (EWR)
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
- Honolulu International (HNL)
- Houston Hobby (HOU)
- Washington Dulles International (IAD)
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
- Indianapolis International (IND)
- New York John F Kennedy International (JFK)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Orlando International (MCO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW)
- Memphis International (MEM)
- Miami International (MIA)
- Minneapolis/St Paul International (MSP)
- Oakland International (OAK)
- Ontario International (ONT)
- Chicago O`Hare International (ORD)
- Portland International (PDX)
- Philadelphia International (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
- San Diego International (SAN)
- Louisville International (SDF)
- Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Salt Lake City International (SLC)
- Teterboro (TEB)
U.S. Airlines Cancel More Than 1,000 Flights For Second Day In A Row Due To Ongoing Government Shutdown
The government shutdown is really hitting hard. U.S. airlines had to ground over 1,000 flights for the second day running. On Saturday, the FAA kept limiting flight capacity and air traffic at 40 of the biggest U.S. airports.
ABC News reported that, as of 3:30 p.m. ET, a staggering 1,048 flights had already been canceled nationwide, plus over 4,000 flights were delayed. This comes right after 1,024 cancellations on Friday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in an interview with ABC News Live on Friday that further air travel reductions are likely if the shutdown continues. “My hope is that this government shutdown will end soon and we can get back in the business of letting Americans travel,” Duffy said.
He also warned that the Department of Transportation might have to ask airlines to cancel even more than 10% of their flights if air traffic controllers keep calling out sick in larger numbers. International flights, however, are expected to be spared. Duffy explained:
“We have international agreements that we abide by, and because of those international agreements, I’m not going to impact those international flights. And because if I do, what will happen is we have other countries that are waiting to have a breach of those contracts from the US so they can cut down American flights, and then that would have a very long lasting impact on our ability to to to send travelers from the U.S. to those partners that have the agreements.”
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