The government shutdown in the United States continues to prolong. After the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) ordered a reduction in the number of flights at dozens of airports, American airlines started canceling hundreds of flights on Friday, November 7.
The shutdown has left air traffic controllers without pay. The shortage of air traffic controllers has already disrupted flights at major airports across the United States.
Following the FAA’s order to reduce flights, 40 airports in major U.S. cities have been affected. As of Friday’s deadline, approximately 800 flights have been canceled at major hub airports in the United States. The U.S. Department of Transportation warned in a joint order that the number of flight cancellations could further increase.
Aviation analytics company Cirium estimates that this reduction will result in as many as 1,800 domestic flights being canceled daily in the United States, leading to a reduction of 268,000 seats. International flights remain unaffected.
The three major airports in New York City – John F. Kennedy International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and Newark Airport, along with 40 other aviation hubs across the country, are on high alert to handle flight delays and cancellations.
As of 9 a.m. on Friday, John F. Kennedy International Airport reported 42 delayed flights and 36 canceled flights, LaGuardia Airport reported 7 delayed flights and 39 canceled flights, while Newark Liberty International Airport reported 26 delayed flights and 43 canceled flights.
According to CNBC, major U.S. airlines have stated that flight disruptions are primarily concentrated on regional flights to smaller cities. For instance, United Airlines mentioned that its hub-to-hub and long-haul international flights will not be canceled due to the FAA’s order.
Robert Isom, the CEO of American Airlines, stated that the company canceled 221 flights on Friday and expressed the company’s “frustration” over the reduction in flights.
Isom mentioned on CNBC’s “Squawk Box” program, “What we did today was try to minimize the impact on all customers – out of 6,200 flights, only 220 were affected, and it was small aircraft that were affected.”
“The level of flight cancellations of this kind will increase over time, which will pose challenges,” Isom added.
Airlines are offering alternative flights to passengers and waiving rebooking fees for those affected.
Aixa Diaz, spokesperson for the American Automobile Association (AAA), advised travelers to arrive at the airport two hours early to avoid long queues and to minimize checked baggage to prevent flight cancellations. However, during this period, maintaining flexibility in travel plans is crucial for all passengers.