More than 1,000 flights were cancelled in the US on Friday (BBC reported the number to be closer to 1,400), and 6,000 flights were delayed as part of a targeted cutdown at 40 major airports. That number could surge to a lot more if the government shutdown persists and the air traffic controllers are not paid their wages.
Most airlines were on schedule on Friday, but travelers’ anxiety was rising as they faced long delays at airports and last-minute cancellations. Many were looking for alternate arrangements like rental cars and trains as more flights are likely to be cancelled in the coming weeks.
The Federal Aviation Administration ordered to reduce service at the nation’s busiest airports, as many ATC staff stopped reporting for work after they had not been paid for nearly a month.
Even if the government shutdown ends, the FAA said the flight cuts will remain in place until their safety data improves.
On Wednesday, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told a media briefing that additional measures could be taken after the initial reduction.
Bedford said: “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.”
The shutdown could also have an impact on the holidays and shipping prices, as nearly half of all US air freight is shipped in the passenger aircraft.
The 1,000 flights cancelled nationwide on Friday, was five times the number cancelled on Thursday, according to FlightAware.
According to AP, Reagan National Airport was hit the hardest with at least 18 per cent of its arrivals – 81 flights – canceled on Friday. The major hubs of O’Hare, Atlanta, Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth rounded out the top five airports for cancellations, but those airports only lost around 3 per cent of their flights.
Delta Air Lines said it cancelled roughly 170 flights on Friday, while American planned to cut 220 each day through Monday. Southwest Airlines cut about 120 flights.
