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CLEVELAND, Ohio – A dozen flights have been canceled Monday at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport, as airlines continue to comply with a federal mandate to reduce flying amid concerns about staffing shortages and air traffic controller fatigue. And things may get worse before they get better. Starting Tuesday, airlines will be reducing flights even more to abide by the order from the Federal Aviation Administration to decrease flying amid the federal government shutdown. But there may be relief in sight: With the end of the government shutdown likely later this week, the airlines should begin to rebuild their schedules in time for the busy Thanksgiving travel season. Before then, however, travelers will still need to deal with large-scale reductions in Cleveland and elsewhere. Already Monday, airlines are reporting 1,600 cancellations across the United States. That includes 12 flights from Cleveland Hopkins, including four on Delta Air Lines (service to Atlanta, New York City and Detroit); three on United (Chicago and Newark); three on American (Chicago and New York City); one on Southwest (to Chicago); and one on Spirit (to Fort Lauderdale). The cancellations Monday follow a terrible day of air travel in the United States Sunday, when 2,953 flights were cancelled nationwide, about 10% of the total, according to FlightAware.com, an aviation data firm. Those reductions included 18 cancellations and 49 delays at Cleveland Hopkins. Sunday’s troubles were likely related to more than the government-mandated reductions, however. Wintry weather also affected flights throughout the Midwest. The FAA last week ordered U.S. airlines to reduce flying at the nation’s 40 busiest airports in response to concerns about air traffic shortages and fatigue amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, the longest ever, in its 41st day Monday. While Cleveland Hopkins is not one of the 40 targeted airports, airlines are reducing flights across their networks to comply. Reductions were mandated at 4% last week, increasing to 6% Tuesday, 8% Thursday and 10% Friday. It’s unclear how quickly those reductions will be rolled back even after the shutdown is over. Sixty Senators agreed late Sunday on a measure that will allow the government to reopen, although additional votes in both the Senate and House are required. In the meantime, Cleveland airport officials continue to urge travelers to arrive at the airport two hours before domestic flights to deal with long security lines and other potential delays. Chicago O’Hare and Chicago Midway are reporting the most cancellations on Monday, followed by Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson, New York LaGuardia, Newark Liberty, San Diego, Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth.
