What to Know
- Dozens of flights at the D.C. area’s major airports, and more than 1,000 flights nationwide, were canceled Friday morning as the FAA’s government shutdown order took effect.
- The FAA said the cutbacks are necessary to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay for more than a month.
- The FAA said the reductions were set to start at 4% on Friday and ramp up to 10% by Nov. 14 if the government remains shut down.
- Washington Reagan National (DCA), Dulles International (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) are in line for cuts.
The Federal Aviation Administration‘s unprecedented order to scale back flights nationwide because of the record-long government shutdown took effect Friday morning.
The three major airports in the Washington, D.C., area – Washington Reagan National (DCA), Dulles International (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) – are among 40 airports nationwide slated for cuts. More than 70 flights were canceled at D.C.-area airports Friday morning.
The FAA says the cuts are necessary to maintain safety and lessen the strain on air traffic controllers who are working without paychecks during the shutdown.
Some local passengers said they’re frustrated.
“I think the government is playing with people’s lives, because this is manufactured and it’s political,” one passenger at DCA told News4’s Adam Tuss.
Another passenger said he’s worried about the holidays and people getting stuck.
“I’m a little concerned. Like, during the holidays and stuff. Seeing family is really important to me,” he said.
The 40 airports selected by the FAA span more than two dozen states and include hubs such as Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles and Charlotte, North Carolina, according to the order.
More than 1,100 flights have been called off nationwide, according to FlightAware. The website tracks disruptions at airports, but doesn’t say specifically why those flights were canceled.
As of 12:30 p.m., 80 flights were canceled at D.C.’s major airports, according to FlightAware.
- 37 flights at DCA
- 21 flights at IAD
- 22 flights at BWI
Delta Air Lines said it would scratch roughly 170 flights Friday. United Airlines said 188 flights would be canceled on Friday, Southwest said 120 would be axed, and Delta said 170, NBC News reported. American Airlines planned to cut 220 a day through Monday. In examples of canceled itineraries shared with NBC News, American Airlines said one of ten flights from Boston to DCA would be canceled.
The FAA said the reductions were set to start at 4% and ramp up to 10% by Nov. 14 if the government is still shut down. They are to be in effect between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. and impact all commercial airlines. That means up to 800 flights could be cut daily at DCA once the reductions are in full effect.
D.C. is among metropolitan areas, also including New York, Houston and Chicago, where multiple airports will be impacted, while the ripple effects could reach smaller airports as well.
Clint Henderson, a travel expert and managing editor of The Points Guy, said airlines are being very flexible about flight changes but shared a warning for travelers.
“So you’re gonna be able to change your flight without penalty, but if this drags on into Thanksgiving, I think a lot of people are gonna end up having to cancel their trips home for Thanksgiving or drive,” Henderson said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said that the end of the government shutdown wouldn’t immediately restore air traffic controllers, NBC News reported.
“So, if the government opens on Day One, will I see an immediate response from controllers? No,” he said on CNN. “The union is telling me it’s going to take time to get them all back in. I don’t wish this was the circumstance in which I was dealing with. So, I imagine, as we see the data change and more controllers come to work, we are, as quickly as possible, going to take these restrictions away.””
What airlines say and what passengers should do
Airlines scrambled to adjust their schedules and began canceling flights Thursday in anticipation of the FAA’s official order, while travelers with plans for the weekend and beyond waited nervously to learn if their flights would take off as scheduled.
United, Delta, Southwest and American all said they will try to minimize the impact on consumers as they cut their schedules to comply with the order. Many airlines announced they will give customers flexibility on rebooking or canceling travel plans. Check with your airline for specifics.
If your flight is canceled and you no longer want to take the trip, or have found another way of getting to your destination, the airline is legally required to refund your money, even if you bought a non-refundable ticket. Here’s what to know.
The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, which operates Dulles and Reagan National, said airlines are working with the FAA to reduce flights.
“The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority anticipates that airlines will reach out directly to affected customers regarding flight cancellations or rescheduling options,” MWAA said in a statement.
Passengers should make sure their airline has up-to-date contact information and check their flight status before heading to the airport.
Passengers should arrive at least two hours early for domestic flights and three hours early for international flights during the busy holiday travel season, MWAA said.
Why is the FAA reducing flights?
The FAA said the cutbacks are necessary to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay for more than a month. Many are pulling six-day work weeks with mandatory overtime, and increasing numbers of them have begun calling out as the financial strain and exhaustion mount.
“You can’t expect people to go in to work when they’re not getting a paycheck,” said Kelly Matthews of Flat Rock, Michigan, a frequent business traveler who has canceled most of her upcoming trips. “I mean it’s not a matter of them not wanting to do the job — but you can’t afford to pay for gas, your day care and everything else.”
The order comes as the Trump administration is ramping up pressure on Democrats in Congress to end the shutdown.
Airlines said they would try to minimize impact on customers. Some planned to focus on slashing routes to and from small and medium-size cities.
Carriers are required to refund customers whose flights are canceled but not to cover secondary costs such as food and hotel accommodations unless a delay or cancellation results from a contributing factor that is within the control of the airlines, according to the Department of Transportation.
Industry analyst Henry Harteveldt warned that the reductions will “have a noticeable impact across the U.S. air transportation system.”
The cuts could also slow package service as two airports on the list are major distribution centers for delivery companies: FedEx in Memphis, Tennessee, and UPS in Louisville, Kentucky, the site of this week’s deadly cargo plane crash.
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