For the second day in a row, amid the ongoing government shutdown, U.S. airlines have cancelled more than 1,000 flights.
On Wednesday (November 5), Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced that 40 “high-volume” airports would have their air traffic cut by 10%. The move arrived amid the ongoing government shutdown, with today marking day 38. Duffy said the cuts will help with shortages of air traffic controllers. Due to the shutdown, controllers have been working long hours without pay.
As previously shared, on Thursday (November 6), Nick Daniels, the president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, a union, spoke with CNN. During his appearance on ‘The Situation Room,’ Daniels spoke on the reduction of flights to alleviate pressure on unpaid and overworked air traffic controllers. Daniels said:
“You know, Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford have been talking about the only way that you control and manage risk is by reducing the number of flights.
And we’re right now operating. It’s no surprise to anyone as the story has gone on that we only have 10,800 certified controllers. We’re 3,800 short of what we actually need of 14,633. Controllers are resigning every day now because of the prolonged nature of the shutdown. We hadn’t seen that before.
And we’re also 400 controllers short, shorter than we were in the 2019 shutdown, the issues are getting worse by every day. And we’re taking steps to — steps are being taken to reduce that capacity of the airspace, mitigate risk where we can and put the controllers in a position to succeed.
I think Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford are going to have to have close monitor of it.
They are taking those proactive steps of putting a smaller level of capacity to the airspace or a smaller number of flights, so that way air traffic controllers are a position to go to work, provide the best service they can. We’re going to continue to show up to the best of our ability.
Our air traffic controllers right now, though, are every day — not only to stress the frustration, the fear of this never ending, but also the level of hopelessness that’s setting in, that’s something I haven’t heard an air traffic controller. They’re a prideful group, but their mental health is something that we have to be concerned about as well.”
Here’s 40 Busy Airports Expected To Face 10% Flight Cut Starting November 7
The 10% air traffic cuts began on Friday (November 7), and sources told CBS News that airlines are expected to reach the full 10% mark by next week. The sources cite information reportedly revealed in a conversation between the FAA, the Department of Transportation, and U.S. airlines.
Sources also told CBS News a proposed list of busy passenger airports in major cities and airline hubs. The list also included airports with heavy cargo traffic. Travelers have been encouraged to check with their airlines to see if their flight has been cut. Refunds are also being handed out.
Here’s the list, in alphabetical order by airport code:
- Tampa International (TPA)
- 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)
RELATED: Donald Trump Addresses Airport Delays Amid Government Shutdown: ‘They’re All Democrat Delays’
U.S. Airlines Cancel More Than 1,000 Flights For Second Day In A Row Due To Ongoing Government Shutdown
Due to the strain of the ongoing government shutdown, U.S. airlines have cancelled over 1,000 flights for the second day in a row. On Saturday (November 8), the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) continued to limit flight capacity and air traffic at 40 major U.S. airports.
According to ABC News, as of 3:30 p.m. ET, 1,048 flights were already cancelled nationwide. Additionally, over 4,000 flights were listed as delayed. This follows the 1,024 cancellations listed on Friday (November 7).
During an interview with ABC News Live on Friday, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said if the government shutdown continues, there will be more air travel reductions. Duffy said, “My hope is that this government shutdown will end soon and we can get back in the business of letting Americans travel.”
He also warned that the Department of Transportation may soon ask airlines to cancel more than 10% of their flights if air traffic controllers continue calling out in higher numbers. However, international flights have not, and may not, see any cuts. Duffy said:
“We have international agreements that we abide by, and because of those international agreements, I’m not going to impact those international flights. And because if I do, what will happen is we have other countries that are waiting to have a breach of those contracts from the US so they can cut down American flights, and then that would have a very long lasting impact on our ability to to to send travelers from the U.S. to those partners that have the agreements.”
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