Hundreds of flights set for Friday are already being cut at major U.S. airports as part of the Federal Aviation Administration’s effort to phase in 10% reductions because of the government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration is imposing the reductions to take pressure off air traffic controllers, who are federal employees and have gone without pay during the shutdown.
In addition to reduced flight traffic, the shutdown has led to more flight delays, with experts advising travelers to check flight statuses before heading to the airport, among other tips.
Here’s a closer look at what to know about the reductions.
Which airports are affected?
The list of airports facing reductions includes 40 airports with Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Miami, Newark and San Francisco among them. A full list of airports facing reductions is here.
Nearly 500 flights in total have already been canceled for Friday, according to www.FlightAware.com. That’s more than four times higher than the number of flights cancelled Thursday.
San Diego International Airport is among those affected.
In San Diego, seven inbound Friday flights had already been canceled as of Thursday, along with nine inbound flights. That compared to only one each on Thursday.
“Passengers are strongly encouraged to check their flight status before coming to the airport, and plan to arrive no less than two hours before their flight,” said Jonathan Heller with the San Diego Airport.
“We also ask our passengers to exercise patience as airlines work to adjust flight schedules in the wake of this latest disruption. We appreciate the ongoing commitment from TSA, FAA and our partner airlines to maintain the safety and reliability of the national transportation system during this challenging time.
“Our focus remains on ensuring a safe and efficient airport experience.”
Why is this necessary?
Air traffic controllers have gone without paychecks during the shutdown of the federal government. That’s led to controllers calling in sick and contributed to staffing shortages that have been affecting air travel for weeks.
Most controllers work mandatory overtime six days a week during the shutdown without pay, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association has said.
That leaves little time for a side job unless controllers call in sick to the FAA.
When will the reductions begin and end?
They’re set to start Friday, with passengers expected to be notified on Thursday. Airlines have said people could see weekend travel plans disrupted with little notice.
Airlines will phase in reductions at the direction of the FAA, starting by eliminating 4% of flights at the 40 targeted airports Friday and building to 10%, according to three people familiar with what the agency said, but who were not authorized to discuss it publicly.
United Airlines will cut 4% of its flights this weekend based on guidance from the FAA, said company spokesperson Josh Freed.
The FAA had not yet published an official order as of midday Thursday and didn’t immediately respond to questions about implementation details.
It’s unclear when the reduced flights could end. Airlines, unions and the travel industry have urged Congress to end the shutdown, which on Wednesday became the longest on record.
What will the effect of the reduction be?
The cuts could include up to 1,800 flights and about 268,000 seats combined, according to one estimate.
United Airlines and Delta Air Lines both said they would offer refunds to travelers who opt not to fly, even if they have tickets that aren’t normally refundable.
United Airlines posted a message on its website stating, “We’re making updates to our schedule and will let you know if your flight is affected as soon as possible, but anyone flying between Nov. 6 and 13 can request a refund or reschedule for free.”
Southwest Airlines posted a notice saying “the vast majority” of its customers will not be affected, but said anyone with flights booked through Wednesday can adjust their travel plans at no cost, “or receive a refund if they choose not to travel, regardless of whether their flight is affected.”
“We will communicate directly with affected customers as soon as possible,” according to Southwest.
Delta Air Lines also advised customers of flight reductions, and provided guidance for travelers about how they can change or cancel their flights without any financial penalties.
Frontier Airlines stated that it expects most of its flights to operate as planned, but it will communicate with passengers whose travel plans may be impacted by the cuts.
“Customers whose flights are canceled or delayed for more than three hours (domestic flights) or six hours (international flights) are able to rebook or to request a refund,” according to the airline.
The cuts also could disrupt package deliveries because two airports with major distribution centers are on the list. FedEx operates at the Memphis, Tennessee, aiport and UPS in Louisville, Kentucky, where there was a deadly cargo plane crash this week.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned this week there could be chaos in the skies if the shutdown drags on long enough for controllers to miss their second full paycheck next week.
Has this happened before?
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said this week that he’s never seen these kinds of measures taken before in his nearly four-decade experience in the aviation field.
“We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns,” he said.
Staffing problems led to delays throughout October, but they were mostly isolated and temporary. Last weekend, though, saw a change.
From Friday to Sunday evening, at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported potential staffing limits, according to an Associated Press analysis of operations plans shared through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center system. The figure, which is likely an undercount, is well above the average for weekends before the shutdown.
Associated Press and City News Service contributed to this report.
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