Travelers using some of the busiest airports in the United States can expect to learn the following Thursday: they will have fewer flights As the government shutdown continues for two months.
The Federal Aviation Administration will announce 40 “high-volume markets” that will see 10% fewer flights before the cuts take effect Friday, agency administrator Brian Bedford said. The agency said the measures are aimed at keeping the airspace safe during the closure.
Experts predict hundreds if not thousands of flights May be canceled. The reduction could amount to up to 1,800 flights, or more than 268,000 seats, according to estimates by aviation analysis firm Cirium.
“I’m not aware of any situation in our 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve taken steps like this,” Bedford said Wednesday. “We are entering new territory in terms of a government shutdown.”
What to do if you face flight disruptions during the government shutdown
As disruptions continue to occur across the country, an increasing number of airports are experiencing flight delays due to staff shortages. Here’s what you need to know about your rights as a passenger.
My flight was canceled. Well, what is it? If you’re already at the airport, find another flight. The airline will rebook you on a later flight at no additional charge. You can request a reservation on another airline, but the airline is not required to put you on another airline’s flight. There are many hits and misses.
Do I have a refund obligation? If your flight is canceled and you no longer wish to take part in the trip or find another way to get to your destination, the airline is legally obligated to refund your money, even if you purchased a non-refundable ticket.
Can I receive compensation? U.S. airlines are not required to pay additional cash compensation or cover lodging and meals for stranded passengers, even if the flight cancellation or significant delay is the airline’s fault.
Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1st. Most work mandatory overtime six days a week, leaving little time for second jobs to cover bills and other expenses unless requested.
Bedford said at a news conference Wednesday that the agency is being forced to act because of increasing staffing pressures.
“This cannot be ignored,” he said, adding that even if the shutdown ends by Friday, the FAA will not automatically resume normal operations until staffing levels improve and stabilize.
At a news conference, Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy declined to name the cities or airports whose air traffic would be curtailed, saying they wanted to first meet with airline executives to figure out how to implement the cuts safely.
Major airlines, airline unions and the broader travel industry are calling on Congress to end the shutdown. on wednesday It was the longest on record.
Jeff Freeman, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, said in a statement that the closures place an unnecessary burden on the system and “force us to make difficult operational decisions that disrupt travel and undermine confidence in the American air travel experience.”
duffy warned On Tuesday, it announced that a prolonged shutdown could cause enough disruption in the skies that air traffic controllers may not receive their second full paycheck next week.
Duffy said some controllers can afford to miss one paycheck, but not more than two. And some controllers struggle to even pay for transportation to work, he said.
Both regional control centers that manage multiple airports and individual airport towers can be understaffed, but this does not always lead to disruption of operations. Throughout October, flight delays due to staffing issues were mostly isolated and temporary.
But last weekend, the worst staffing problems occurred since the shutdown began.
At least 39 air traffic control facilities reported potential staffing limitations from Friday through Sunday evening, according to an Associated Press analysis of operational plans shared through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center System. This number is probably an undercount, but it is well above the average for the weekend before the shutdown.
Over the weekend from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, the average number of airport towers, regional control centers and high-altitude traffic monitoring facilities that announced potential staffing issues was 8.3, according to an Associated Press analysis. But over the five weekend period since the shutdown began, the average more than tripled to 26.2 establishments.
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Associated Press journalist Christopher L. Keller contributed from Albuquerque, New Mexico.
