Copyright Charleston Post and Courier
South Carolina airports may not be on the list of 40 around the U.S. that are about to be impacted by drastic temporary airline cuts due to the government shutdown, but that doesn’t mean travelers won’t take a hit. The Federal Aviation Administration directed all airlines to reduce flight schedules beginning Nov. 7 in an effort to relieve the strain on the national aviation system and staffing shortages from furloughed air traffic controllers. The effort reduces air traffic by 10 percent across “high-volume” markets to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers go unpaid and exhibit signs of strain during the shutdown, the Associated Press reported. The affected airports in more than two dozen states include the busiest across the U.S. in cities, such as Atlanta, Chicago and New York. Many are popular connection points to and from the Lowcountry. “I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said during a press conference Nov. 5. “We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.” The cuts could affect as many as 1,800 flights nationally — or upwards of 268,000 passengers — per day, AP reported. Airlines nationwide are raising the red flag that flights may be cancelled or delayed across their networks in the wake of the news, which means connecting flights for South Carolina travelers are likely to be impacted. United Airlines said in a statement Nov. 5 that its long-haul international and hub-to-hub flights will not be impacted. The focus is to schedule reductions to regional and domestic mainline flights that don’t travel between hub airports. “The goal is to relieve pressure on the national aviation system to keep us all operating safely. That is the highest priority for the FAA — and for United,” the statement said. American Airlines sent out an email to customers also on Nov. 5 stating it is still working with the FAA and will notify affected customers as soon as possible. “We remain grateful to the air traffic controllers, TSA officers, CBP officers and other federal employees who are working right now without pay — all to get our customers where they need to be safely — as well as our American Airlines team members who always work to take the best care of our customers,” American Airlines wrote. Southwest, which has a large presence across the Palmetto State’s airports, shared similar regrets as other airlines. It also created a webpage dedicated to answering the most commonly asked questions by customers and explain what they can do if they find themselves affected. “Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees. We know that these FAA-imposed cancellations could impact an important moment in your life. We appreciate your understanding,” the airline shared in a message to customers. What about refunds? United, Delta, Southwest and American Airlines have said they will notify passengers of changes to their itinerary due to delayed or cancelled flights and connections, with offers to rebook passengers at no extra charge. Airlines will offer refunds to passengers with cancelled flights who opt not to rebook, even if they purchased tickets that aren’t normally refundable. What local airports are saying Many of South Carolina’s airports have flights with connections to the major airports in Atlanta, Charlotte and New York City that are being forced to reduce flight frequency. Airport officials across the state are encouraging fliers to closely monitor their flight status and check with their airlines directly for up-to-date information before coming to the airport. Coastal S.C. Charleston International Airport, the state’s largest airport that sees more than 6 million passengers per year, is telling flyers to arrive early, monitor flight status through their airline and leave extra time to park. Officials at Myrtle Beach International Airport, which has many travelers connecting through Atlanta, Nashville, Tenn., and Orlando, are bracing customers that they may experience delays, schedule adjustments or cancellations due to changes at the other facilities. The Upstate Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport spokesperson Tiffany Cherry said impacts in larger metro areas will almost certainly affect travelers flying out of the Upstate. “It’s that hub and spoke model, so we serve a lot of those major airports,” she said. “Airlines are looking at what the routes will be they’ll have to make adjustments to.” GSP is working to minimize impacts to travelers on its end and will largely operate as normal, she said, but airlines are the best source for information about delays or cancellations caused by the cuts. Charlotte Douglas Across state lines in North Carolina, Charlotte Douglas International Airport is bracing for the pending flight cuts, but a spokesperson said airport officials have not yet been notified of any reductions. "There are currently no significant impacts to airport operations," the spokesperson told The Post and Courier on Nov. 6. More than 38,000 commercial flights passed through Charlotte Douglas last November. It’s the second-largest hub for American Airlines, accounting for nearly 70 percent of the flights last fall, according to statistics from the U.S. Department of Transportation. A spokesperson said the airport is in close communication with the federal government and its airline partners.
