Copyright Men's Journal
There were widespread cancelations and delays at airports around the United States on Monday as the ongoing government shutdown reached day 41. The stoppage, which is the longest in American history, has wreaked havoc on the air travel industry, and while the Senate took a potentially key step toward reopening the government on Sunday, relief is still some time away. “Since the beginning of the shutdown, controllers have been working without pay, and staffing triggers at air traffic facilities across the country have been increasing,” the FAA previously explained. “This has resulted in increased reports of strain on the system from both pilots and air traffic controllers.” Over 2,500 flights from United States airlines were canceled over the weekend, and as of 12:15 p.m. ET today, that figure is over 2,000 for Monday. Chicago-O’Hare hardest hit According to FlightAware, 151 outgoing flights from Chicago-O’Hare International Airport have been canceled, in addition to 141 arrivals. Also, almost 500 total O’Hare flights, both departing and incoming, have been delayed, and that figure will only grow as the day unfolds. Hartsfield-Jackson also feeling the hurt Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport also had over 200 total cancelations, including 143 incoming flights nixed, the most of any air hub. The 99-year-old facility has also had 225 flights delayed as of 12:15 p.m. ET Monday. New York airports unsurprisingly facing major issues as well LaGuardia Airport in New York has the third-most arriving cancelations Monday with 62, along with 64 departing flights dropped, fourth-most nationwide. LaGuardia has also accumulated nearly 200 delays. LaGuardia’s neighbor, John F. Kennedy International Airport, ranks eighth in arriving cancelations, while Newark-Liberty International Airport in New Jersey has the fifth-most canceled departures (51) and ninth-most canceled arrivals. The five airlines with the most cancelations SkyWest – 300 Delta Airlines – 287 Southwest Airlines – 271 Republic – 150 American Airlines – 114 Transportation secretary has warning before Thanksgiving On Friday, the FAA began the process of cutting thousands of flights per day at 40 airports around the country. Flight capacity is eventually scheduled to be reduced by 10 percent. That same day, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that if the shutdown continued and more air traffic personnel were unable to work, it was possible that the 10 percent figure could climb higher. “If this continues, and I have more controllers who decide they can’t come to work, can’t control the airspace, but instead have to take a second job — with that, you might see 10 percent would have been a good number, because we might go to 15 percent or 20 percent,” Duffy said, via The Hill. “Could it go there? That’s possible. There’s no plan for that,” Duffy added. “I assess the data and how many controllers I have, and I’m just saying we’re going to make decisions based on what we see in the airspace to make sure we keep it safe. I hope it goes the other direction.”
