Copyright Newsweek
United Airlines has announced how their flights will be impacted under the government shutdown, and it could be bad news for travelers not located near one of the airline’s eight regional hubs. United will be reducing flight schedules during the shutdown as the Federal Aviation Administration looks to maintain safety across the country as many of their workers remain in furlough. Why It Matters The government shutdown, which started October 1, has persisted for more than a month now, and everything from flight availability to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits have been affected. Travelers could experience flight delays and even cancellations as government workers remain unpaid and not monitoring overall flight safety across the country. What To Know United Airlines posted an update on X this week about how their flights will be affected by the government shutdown. “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation have directed every airline, across 40 U.S. airports, to meaningfully reduce their schedules during the government shutdown,” the airline posted on X. “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.” Reductions for flights will start from Friday, November 7, and the company said they aim to provide several days’ advance notice to affected customers. “If your flight is impacted, we will notify you in advance via the United app, our website or a text,” United wrote. When it comes to which actual flights are delayed or canceled, it will often depend on whether your flight is coming from a hub airport. “United’s long-haul international and hub-to-hub flights will not be impacted. Instead, the focus is on schedule reductions to regional and domestic mainline flights that do not travel between our hub airports,” United wrote. The airline operates eight main hubs: Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Denver International Airport (DEN), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM). So if your flight is arriving to or from one of those airports, it’s less likely you will deal with any travel disruptions. The flight disruption announcements courtesy of the government shutdown have sparked outrage online. “I’m reading the airlines posting about flight reductions and thanking myself and my husband for canceling our trip. I’m not built for airport hunger games. Holiday travel is stressful enough,” X user @CosmoLife8 wrote in response to United’s updates. “Cancel your trip if you *do NOT* have funds for meals, hotels, car rental or buying more tickets. Don’t count on anything going smoothly for same day refunds or vouchers.” What People Are Saying Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of The 9Innings Podcast, told Newsweek: “The airline industry is taking a real hit right now. TSA lines are backing up, and air traffic controllers are being stretched thin. TSA employees are either not being paid at all or are working under delayed compensation, and some simply cannot afford to keep showing up. When you are making forty to fifty thousand a year, which breaks out to roughly twenty to twenty-five an hour, you are likely living paycheck to paycheck. So, missing even one pay period can force tough decisions. Some are calling in sick, some are picking up side work, and others are just unable to make it to work at all.” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek: “Simply put, the longer this shutdown goes on, the more chaotic travel is going to be for those flying. We've already seen in recent weeks how federally paid airport employees in many major cities have been taking more leave time, and it's fair to see why. Coming in for weeks on end without pay adds tremendous stress to an already challenging line of work.” What Happens Next All customers traveling during the government shutdown are eligible for a refund. This includes all non-refundable and Basic Economy tickets, the airline said. “Travelers should expect longer wait times, more delays, and potentially more flight cancellations as airlines react to staffing challenges. Airlines may start scaling back routes if reliability drops,” Thompson said. He added: “The bigger picture is this: as the cost of living continues to rise, we may see TSA workers and air traffic controllers begin to demand higher wages. Their role in keeping domestic and international travel functioning is now front and center. This shutdown is making it clear how essential they are to the system.” The holiday season is likely to add even more strain to the larger aviation system, Beene said. “Even more concerning is the approaching holiday season, which leads to massive numbers of travelers coming through airports daily,” Beene explained. “These flight cancellations earlier in the month could push some to rebook during the holidays, further overcrowding airports. Even worse is the thought of the shutdown not being resolved by Thanksgiving, which would be a traveling nightmare.”
