Disruptions in air travel are causing headaches for travelers across the US this weekend. Airlines have canceled over 1,700 flights from Friday to Sunday. This is mainly due to staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, which worsened because of an ongoing government shutdown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered a 4% reduction in flights at 40 of the busiest airports. Even with these cuts, many travelers are facing lengthy delays. People like Michele Cuthbert from Columbus, Ohio, worry about getting stranded at airports, especially as cancellations mount.
If the shutdown doesn’t end soon, airlines might have to cancel up to 10% of their flights by next week. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that cuts could increase to 15-20% if the situation continues to drag on. The FAA noted significant staffing shortages, reporting that air traffic control facilities were understaffed 32 times on a recent Friday.
Major airlines are reacting by cutting hundreds of flights. American Airlines plans to cancel 220 flights on Saturday, while United Airlines will cut 168 on the same day. Southwest Airlines and others report similar reductions, although many flights will still operate normally.
To help affected passengers, airlines are waiving change fees. Frontier’s CEO, Barry Biffle, suggested that travelers consider booking backup tickets if they can’t risk their flights being canceled.
Here are some tips for passengers:
- Check your flight status proactively.
- Consider travel insurance for coverage on disruptions.
- Remember, if your flight is canceled or delayed for over three hours, you are entitled to a cash refund.
The effects of the shutdown ripple through major airports. For example, Reagan National Airport in D.C. faced about 80 canceled flights, while other large hubs like Chicago O’Hare and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson also reported numerous delays and cancellations.
In international news, airports like Amsterdam Schiphol and Tokyo Haneda experienced flight cancellations as well. As these disruptions continue, travelers remain anxious, not only about their upcoming trips but also the possibility of further chaos in air travel.
For more details on flight cancellations and travel guidelines, you can check out FlightAware.
