Airplanes move on the runway as travelers walk through the gates at LAX Airport in Los Angeles, California, Wednesday. As the government shutdown continues into its 30th day, airports are facing potential challenges that could affect holiday travelers. Federal employees, including TSA and air traffic control workers, have missed their first full paycheck leading to concerns about possible travel disruptions. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
The nation’s three largest airlines have canceled hundreds of Friday flights following the Federal Aviation Administration’s announcement that it is limiting air traffic at dozens of the nation’s largest airports due to the government shutdown.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford announced a 10% reduction in flights at 40 “high impact” airports nationwide. Air carriers responded by announcing plans to cut at least 4% of their flights on Friday, a number that could rise to 10% next week.
“I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” Bedford said Wednesday. “Then again, we’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.”
The flight reductions affect nearly all of the major airports in the United States.
American Airlines announced plans Thursday to cancel about 220 of its 6,000 departures beginning Friday and lasting through the weekend.
United Airlines said it will cancel about 200 of its 5,000 departures each day through the weekend. The carrier posted affected flights on a website along with traveler information.
Half of the customers who had their flights canceled were able to rebook within four hours of their originally scheduled departure time, according to ABC News.
Delta Airlines announced plans to cancel 170 of its flights.
All three of the carries, the nation’s largest, said they intend to accommodate travelers on other flights. Some said they intended to reduce regional flights but maintain long haul routes.
The flight cancellations are the result of air traffic control staffing disruptions created by the extended government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history.
Travelers began receiving notices about the cancellations on Thursday.
