Amid an unprecedented government-ordered reduction in U.S. flights as the shutdown drags on, American travelers may face more problems in the coming days as U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned on Friday that the government could force airlines to cut up to 20% of flights.
Sean Duffy said up to 15% or even 20% of flights could be disrupted in the coming days, adding: “The reduction was a proactive safety step as the shutdown puts “strain on the system for both pilots and air traffic controllers.
Although the transport secretary did not give a timeline, Duffy said they will make a decision based on what they see in the airspace.
Read also | 700+ flights canceled as FAA order goes into effect; US travel suspended
When the cuts began, over 1,200 flights were canceled by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines, and 2,600 flights were delayed. Forty airports were slated for cuts, including major hubs in Atlanta, Newark, Denver, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles, AFP reported.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was forced to delay hundreds of flights at nine airports due to the absence of air traffic controllers.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom warned that increased cuts would be “problematic.
“That level of cancellation is going to grow over time, and that’s something that’s going to be problematic,” Isom told CNBC.
Read also | Denver steps in to fund airport workers as FAA hits flight cuts
“It’s frustrating. We don’t need to be in this position,” he added.
According to the New York Times, many travelers looked to trains, buses and other alternatives.
Data analyzed by AFP showed that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, Chicago O’Hare, Denver and Phoenix were the most affected.
United Airlines said half of its affected customers were able to be rebooked within four hours of their original departure time. United, which canceled 184 flights on Friday, will cut 168 on Saturday and 158 on Sunday.
Read also | US Senate erupts over government shutdown: Senator Kennedy wants to stop paying lawmakers
During the record 38-day government shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screening workers were forced to work without pay.
The FAA also restricts space launches.
It also warned that it could reject specific cuts if they would disproportionately affect certain communities, and could cut up to 10% of general aviation flights at high-traffic airports if staffing problems arose.
Read also | New York, Washington, LA will see reduced flights as the shutdown affects 40 airports
Which airports are affected?
1. Anchorage International in Alaska
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International in Georgia
3. Boston Logan International in Massachusetts
4. Baltimore/Washington International in Maryland
5. Charlotte Douglas International in North Carolina
6. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International in Kentucky
7. Dallas Love Field in Texas
8. Ronald Reagan Washington National in Virginia
9. Denver International in Colorado
10. Dallas/Fort Worth International in Texas
11. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County in Michigan
12. Newark Liberty International in New Jersey
13. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International in Florida
14. Honolulu International Airport in Hawaii
15. Houston Hobby in Texas
16. Washington Dulles International in Virginia
17. George Bush Houston Intercontinental in Texas
18. Indianapolis International in Indiana
19. John F. Kennedy International in New York
20. Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas
21. Los Angeles International in California
22. LaGuardia Airport in New York
23. Orlando International in Florida
24. Chicago Midway International in Illinois
25. Memphis International in Tennessee
26. Miami International in Florida
27. Minneapolis/St Paul International in Minnesota
28. Oakland International in California
29. Ontario International in California
30. Chicago O’Hare International in Illinois
31. Portland International in Oregon
32. Philadelphia International in Pennsylvania
33. Phoenix Sky Harbor International in Arizona
34. San Diego International in California
35. Louisville International in Kentucky
36. Seattle/Tacoma International in Washington
37th San Francisco International in California
38. Salt Lake City International in Utah
39. Teterboro, New Jersey
40. Tampa International in Florida
