At least 1,300 flights were canceled Saturday after the Federal Aviation Administration told airlines earlier in the week to cut them. The FAA did this because of a shortage of air traffic controllers amid a government shutdown — now in its second month.
Along with 1,333 total cancellations reported by FlightAware as of Saturday afternoon, there were 5,123 delays within, into or out of the United States.
“We all travel. We all have somewhere to be,” Emmy Holguin, 36, who was flying from Miami Saturday to the Dominican Republic, said in an interview with The Associated Press. “I’m hoping that the government can take care of this.”
Ground stops were also reported at some airports, with some stemming from the air traffic controller shortage and others because of weather.
Charlotte Douglas International Airport was hardest hit, though airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Denver and Newark, New Jersey, saw many issues as well, the AP said.
Reductions at commercial airlines started at 4% of flights at 40 airports on Friday, but the FAA ordered them to increase again on Tuesday to 10%.
On Friday during an event with Breitbart, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that flight reductions could go up to as high as 20% if the government shutdown continues, The Hill reported.
Air traffic controller shortage
The air traffic controller shortage is happening as the workers have been without paychecks during the shutdown. As a result are calling in sick. Others are still working mandatory overtime six days a week, or have taken second jobs to pay the bills, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association said, according to the AP.
The shortage had an issue before the shutdown as well.
The NATCA previously said in a statement it “does not endorse, support, or condone any federal employees participating in or endorsing a coordinated activity that negatively affects the capacity of the [National Air Services], or any other activities that undermine the professional image and reputation of the people we represent.”
Flight disruptions won’t only affect travelers. Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University, told the AP they may also get passed onto consumers.
Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group, said to the outlet that losses could ripple through the economy from tourism to manufacturing.
“This shutdown is going to impact everything from cargo aircraft to people getting to business meetings to tourists being able to travel,” he said. “It’s going to hit the hotel taxes and city taxes. There’s a cascading effect that results from this thing.’’
