Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is reportedly on the list of major airports that will reduce flight volume by 10% starting Friday because of the government shutdown, according to multiple news outlets.
The order from the Federal Aviation Administration affects 40 airports in “high volume” markets around the nation. The FAA claimed the action is due to increasing shortages of air traffic controllers. “When that happens, the FAA slows traffic into some airports to ensure safe operations,” an emailed statement said.
“I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” FAA administrator Bryan Bedford said on Wednesday. “We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.”
The cuts are being implemented to ease pressure on air traffic controllers and are set to begin on Friday, though ABC News reports that some could take effect as early as Thursday. A source told the ABC News that Friday’s cuts will initially start at 4% and ramp up to 10%.
Air traffic controllers are federal employees and have gone without paychecks during the government shutdown, which has reached a record 37th day.
“Many of the controllers said they can survive without one paycheck. They can do that. They put a little money away, they have a little nest egg, they have a rainy day fund if the car breaks down or there’s an unexpected expense, they can navigate losing one paycheck,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. “They said — almost all of them, virtually all of them can not navigate missing two paychecks.”
The shutdown has also affected security checkpoints run by the Transportation Security Administration, whose officers are federal employees, too. The number of checkpoints open at the airport have also been reduced, as workers struggle with the effects of not being paid.
“Philadelphia International Airport, owned and operated by the City of Philadelphia, is open. The airspace is managed by the FAA and any questions regarding the airspace should be directed to the FAA,” the airport said in a statement Thursday. “Travelers with plans to fly should contact their airlines and register for text and email alerts to receive the latest flight status information.”
Travelers can also monitor active airport delays and closures through the FAA’s website.
A statement from American Airlines, PHL’s biggest commercial airline, said that the company expects “the vast majority of our customers’ travel will be unaffected, and long-haul international travel will remain as scheduled.”
The company added that today’s flights will operate as planned and that “customers whose flights are cancelled for any reason or who choose not to travel will be able to change their flight or request a refund, without any penalty.”
Frontier Airlines, the airport’s second busiest airline last year, said it expects most flights to operate as planned, and “where changes to flight schedules are necessary, we will proactively communicate with impacted customers.”
Frontier said it is putting extra measures in place for customers who wish to change or cancel their travel plans. United Airlines, Delta and others have made similar announcements.
“We extend our appreciation to all of the federal employees, including air traffic controllers, TSA officers and others who are working without pay while continuing to get airline passengers safely to their destinations,” Frontier’s statement read. “We wish to thank our customers and team members as we work to minimize the impacts.”
The U.S. Travel Association estimates that over $5 billion has been lost from the nation’s travel economy because of the government shutdown so far.
The non-profit advocacy group representing members of the travel industry sent a letter to congressional leaders on Monday, urging them to reopen the government before the Thanksgiving holiday.
“The American people expect and deserve a fully functioning federal government during the peak holiday travel season,” the letter read. “Congress must act without delay to pass a clean continuing resolution to reopen the government immediately and ensure full federal operations are restored in advance of the Thanksgiving travel period. The cost of continued inaction will be felt by families, workers, businesses, and communities in every part of the country.”
The post PHL is among the airports that will see reduced flight traffic, starting Friday appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY.
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