American travellers are bracing for more disruption as the ongoing US government shutdown threatens to severely impact air travel across the country. In a significant development, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Friday that the government could force airlines to cut up to 20% of their flights if the political impasse continues.
Widespread Flight Cancellations and Delays
The warning comes as the aviation sector already faces unprecedented challenges. On Friday alone, over 1,200 flights from major carriers including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines were cancelled. The situation was further exacerbated by approximately 2,600 flight delays, creating chaos for thousands of passengers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been operating with limited resources, forcing it to delay hundreds of flights at nine airports due to air traffic controller absences. During this record-long 38-day government shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been forced to work without pay, creating operational challenges across the aviation ecosystem.
Major Airports Affected Across the US
The flight reductions are targeting forty airports nationwide, including major transportation hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. Data analysis revealed that the most severely impacted airports were Hartsfield-Jackson in Atlanta, Chicago O'Hare, Denver and Phoenix.
The complete list of forty affected airports spans from coast to coast, including international gateways like John F. Kennedy International in New York, Los Angeles International, San Francisco International, and Seattle/Tacoma International. Regional airports such as Anchorage International in Alaska and Honolulu International in Hawaii are also facing restrictions.
Airline Executives Express Concern
Airline leaders have voiced serious concerns about the escalating situation. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom described the potential for increased cuts as "problematic" in an interview with CNBC. "This level of cancellation is going to grow over time and that's something that is going to be problematic," Isom stated, adding, "This is frustrating. We don't need to be in this position."
United Airlines provided some operational details, noting that half of its impacted customers were able to be rebooked within four hours of their original departure time. The airline cancelled 184 flights on Friday, with additional cuts planned - 168 on Saturday and 158 on Sunday.
With the transportation crisis deepening, many travellers have been seeking alternatives such as trains and buses according to the New York Times. The FAA has also extended its restrictions to include space launches and warned it could reject specific cuts if they disproportionately impact certain communities.
