FAA announces flight reductions, leaving travelers worried about flights
The FAA will cut flights at 40 major airports by 10% to compensate for the shortage of air traffic controllers during the government shutdown.
The third day of government-mandated flight cancellations will be Sunday, Nov. 9, and travelers will once again be glued to their phones and computers to monitor whether their flights are included in a growing list of flight cancellations.
Some disruptions and delays were reported during the first two days of the flight cuts, but uncertainty is in the air, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy suggesting more flight cancellations are likely if the government shutdown continues.
More than 1,000 flights were canceled across the U.S. by Saturday afternoon, Nov. 8, according to FlightAware data. Flightaware reported that more than 1,100 flights had already been canceled on Sunday, November 9th.
So far, only United Airlines has told USA TODAY that it will cut 158 flights on Sunday, Nov. 9, while Delta Air Lines said it has completed all canceled flights through Nov. 10, without disclosing the total amount. Southwest Airlines and American Airlines have not yet confirmed the number of flights they canceled Sunday.
Duffy originally announced that the first round of 4% cuts would begin on Nov. 7 at 40 airports across the country, increasing to 6% by Nov. 11, 8% by Nov. 13 and 10% by Nov. 14.
But Duffy said on Nov. 7 that number could rise to 15% or even 20% of all scheduled flights as a record government shutdown drags on and air traffic controllers are working without pay, adding “strain” to the system.
The good news for travelers is that there will be fewer flight reductions on weekends, as flight volume is generally lower on weekends.
With cancellations and delays on the minds of travelers, especially in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, here’s what you need to know as the airline chaos enters its third day.
More than 1,000 flight cancellations and delays on Sunday morning
As of 8 a.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 9, hundreds of domestic and international flights were already canceled or delayed across the country.
According to aviation tracking platform FlightAware, there have been just under 900 delays in, within, and outside the United States. Approximately 1,500 flights were cancelled.
Delta Air Lines, SkyWest Airlines and Southwest Airlines were among the most affected airlines, with Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport having the most delays and cancellations so far.
Going founder Scott Keyes recommends that if your flight is canceled, you should use the airline’s mobile app to rebook as soon as possible. If passengers need to speak to someone by phone, Keyes suggested calling one of the airline’s international lines.
“The best thing travelers can do is switch to new flights as proactively as possible,” Keyes told USA TODAY. “If a flight is canceled, suddenly hundreds of passengers will need new itineraries. There may only be a few seats left on the best flights, and it’s on a first-come, first-served basis.”
If your flight is affected by staffing issues related to the grounding, you may not have many rights. Because FAA staffing is considered outside of an airline’s control, airlines are not as exposed to delays as due to mechanical issues or other airline-side issues.
Nevertheless, if your flight is canceled for any reason, such as a lack of air traffic controllers, you are entitled to a full refund if you choose not to fly on an alternative itinerary offered by the airline. The same goes for “significant” delays or changes.
Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Brian Bedford said the flight reduction mandate does not require airlines to cancel international flights.
However, airlines can change international flights if they wish. International flights generally have higher ticket prices for airlines, and experts say that revenue can help decide which flights to cut.
United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, and Delta Air Lines announced that there will be no reductions in international flights. Still, international travelers should be careful, as they may face trouble if their domestic connecting flight is canceled or delayed.
As the government shutdown continues with no clear end in sight, thousands of federal employees have been sent home, except for those deemed essential, including many air traffic controllers, who are still working without pay.
According to the emergency order, the FAA said that after reviewing data from the past month, “the system is under stress.” Since the shutdown began on October 1, delays and “unpredictable staffing shortages” have “caused driver fatigue” and “further increased risk.”
“As we see signs of stress in our system, we are actively reducing the number of flights we fly to ensure Americans can continue to fly safely,” Bedford said.
-Cybel Mays Osterman
The FAA has selected the following airports to experience a gradual increase in cancellations:
- TPA – Tampa International Airport
- ANC – Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport
- ATL – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- boss – Boston Logan International Airport
- BWI – Baltimore/Washington International Airport
- CLT – Charlotte Douglas International Airport
- CVG – Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
- Dal – Dallas Love Field
- DCA – Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport
- that – Denver International Airport
- DFW – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport
- DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport
- EEA – Newark Liberty International Airport
- FLL – Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport
- HRT – Honolulu International Airport
- new – William P. Hobby Airport
- they are – Washington Dulles International Airport
- IAH – George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport
- India – Indianapolis International Airport
- John F. Kennedy – New York John F. Kennedy International Airport
- Russ – Las Vegas McCarran International Airport
- LAX – Los Angeles International Airport
- local government – New York LaGuardia Airport
- M.C.O. – Orlando International Airport
- MDW – Chicago Midway International Airport
- Mem – Memphis International Airport
- mia – Miami International Airport
- MSP – Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport
- oak – Auckland International Airport
- ont – Ontario International Airport
- ode – Chicago O’Hare International Airport
- PDX – Portland International Airport
- PHL – Philadelphia International Airport
- PHX – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
- sun – San Diego International Airport
- Self-Defense Forces – Louisville International Airport
- sea – Seattle-Tacoma International Airport
- SFO – San Francisco International Airport
- SLC – Salt Lake City International Airport
- TEB – Teterboro Airport
