As the longest-ever federal government shutdown in American history continues to drag on, the effects on everyday Americans are piling up — and they’re about to get much more severe.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy announced this week that a batch of the country’s busiest airports will start to see flight reductions as of Friday, Nov. 7, as a safety precaution amid worsening air traffic control shortages. These reductions are expected to cause a 10 percent cut in flights at 40 major airports, which is sure to cause disruptions as we approach the holiday travel season.
At a news conference, Duffy called the decision a “proactive” one that was made to protect passenger safety. Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford added: “As we slice the data more granularly, we are seeing pressures build in a way that we don’t feel, if we allow it to go unchecked, will allow us to continue to tell the public that we operate the safest airline system in the world.”
Air traffic controllers are classified as essential employees required to work during the shutdown, but they’re not being paid for it. That’s already led to interruptions at some of the country’s busiest thoroughfares, including Los Angeles International Airport, which faced a ground stop in October due to staffing concerns.
But now that those interruptions are expected to become routine, at least temporarily, around the nation, here are the airports where flight limitations are happening.
What 40 airports are reducing flights?
- Anchorage International (ANC)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Boston Logan International (BOS)
- Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
- Dallas Love (DAL)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
- Newark Liberty International (EWR)
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
- Honolulu International (HNL)
- Houston Hobby (HOU)
- Washington Dulles International (IAD)
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
- Indianapolis International (IND)
- New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Orlando International (MCO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW)
- Memphis International (MEM)
- Miami International (MIA)
- Minneapolis/St. Paul International (MSP)
- Oakland International (OAK)
- Ontario International (ONT)
- Chicago O`Hare International (ORD)
- Portland International (PDX)
- Philadelphia International (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
- San Diego International (SAN)
- Louisville International (SDF)
- Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Salt Lake City International (SLC)
- Teterboro (TEB)
- Tampa International (TPA)
How are airlines responding?
United Airlines announced a refund plan to address the effects of flight reductions. “Any customer traveling during this period is eligible for a refund if they do not wish to fly — even if their flight isn’t impacted. That includes non-refundable tickets and those customers with basic economy tickets,” CEO Scott Kirby told employees in an internal memo.
Delta Air Lines said it will “work to give customers as much notice as possible” if their plans will be affected. “Delta expects to operate the vast majority of our flights as scheduled, including all long-haul international service, and will work to minimize customer impact while keeping safety our top priority,” the airline said in a statement. “We are providing additional flexibility to all of our customers during the impacted travel period to change, cancel, or refund their flights, including our basic economy fares, without penalty.”
American Airlines also said it expects the “vast majority” of its customers to be unaffected, but it’s joining the other companies in offering options during this complicated period. “Disrupting customers’ plans is the last thing we want do to,” the carrier said. “To provide additional flexibility during the impacted travel period, 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.”
How are travelers responding?
A fresh survey by Global Rescue found that many consumers still aren’t expecting to change their plans, even with higher probability of cancellations and delays.
“Travelers are taking a wait-and-see approach,” said Dan Richards, CEO of The Global Rescue Companies and a US Travel and Tourism Advisory Board member at the U.S. Department of Commerce. “While some are adjusting their plans, nearly half — 48% — are staying the course. That patience reflects how adaptable today’s travelers have become to uncertainty, especially with the busy holiday travel season fast approaching.”
Still, one in five of the survey’s respondents said they have already altered their plans: 6 percent said they’ve changed their travel dates; 5 percent said they’ve canceled at least one trip altogether; 4 percent decided to switch from flying to another mode of transport, like driving or taking a bus; and another 4 percent said they’ve tweaked the route of their flights to avoid airports where service is being reduced.
