Governmental Shutdown Leads to Reduction in Flights Across the Country
An unexpected mandate by the aviation authority to decrease flight operations across the nation in response to the ongoing governmental closure is primed to go into operation. This is a situation that has not been seen before and is a result of the longest governmental shutdown on record.
The aviation authority's decree affects 40 airports scattered across many states. These include key operational bases in cities like Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, and Charlotte in North Carolina, as per the issued mandate.
Multiple Airports Affected and Airlines Changing Schedules
Various urban regions, such as New York, Houston, Chicago, and Washington, will see multiple airports affected by this order. The fallout could also extend to smaller airports.
Airlines are hurrying to make necessary changes to their schedules and started to cancel flights the day before the official order was scheduled to take effect. Travelers with plans for the upcoming weekend and the days after are anxiously waiting to find out if their flights will continue as planned.
Considerable Number of Flights Cancelled
Across the country, more than 780 flights have been cancelled. One major airline announced plans to cancel around 170 flights on Friday, while another aims to cancel 220 flights daily until Monday.
The aviation authority has stated that the flight reductions will begin at 4% and will gradually increase to 10% by November 14th. These reductions will be in place between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., affecting all commercial airlines.
Air Traffic Controllers under Pressure
The authority explains that the flight cutbacks are necessary to alleviate the burden on air traffic controllers. They have been working without wages for over a month. Many are working six days a week with compulsory overtime, and a rising number have started to take leave due to financial stress and fatigue.
"You can't anticipate individuals to report to work when they aren't receiving their salaries," says Kelly Matthews, a frequent business traveler from Flat Rock, Michigan, who has cancelled most of her future trips. "It's not about them not wanting to do the job — but they can't manage to pay for gas, child care, and other necessities."
Effects on Customers and Possible Refunds
Airlines have stated that they will attempt to minimize the impact on their customers. Some are planning to focus on reducing routes to and from smaller and medium-sized cities.
If flights are cancelled, airlines are obligated to reimburse passengers. However, they are not required to cover additional costs such as food and hotel accommodations unless a delay or cancellation is caused by a factor within the airline's control, as per the Department of Transportation.
Impacts on the U.S. Air Transportation System
Industry analyst Henry Harteveldt warned that the reductions will "have a noticeable impact across the U.S. air transportation system."
The cutbacks could also affect package service as two of the airports on the list serve as major distribution centers for delivery companies. This includes FedEx in Memphis, Tennessee, and UPS in Louisville, Kentucky, the location of a recent fatal cargo plane crash.