Copyright Newsweek
As the U.S. government shutdown enters its 37th day (making it the longest in American history), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered the cancellation of 10 percent of flights at 40 major airports in the U.S. In response, United Airlines has publicly committed to refunding those who have been affected, or those who no longer wish to travel, due to concerns over airport delays and potential cancellations. Why It Matters According to Airlines for America, a U.S. airline industry trade organization that represents the country's major airlines, since the shutdown began, more than 3.4 million passengers have been impacted by delays and cancellations due to staffing shortages. What To Know During a press conference held by FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Wednesday, November 5, the FAA announced it will reduce air traffic by 10 percent across 40 high-volume U.S. airports, starting on Friday, November 7. This decision was made as a safety measure and to ease pressure on air traffic control, which is facing staffing shortages and controller fatigue because many employees are working longer shifts, without pay. Although the FAA has yet to publicly release the list of affected airports. In response to this, the CEO of United Airlines, Scott Kirby announced that “long-haul international flying and our hub-to-hub flying will not be impacted.” Instead, the airline will focus on reducing regional and domestic flights that don’t fly to and from its U.S. hubs. He stated that customers will be contacted directly if their flights are affected and they will be given the chance to either rebook or claim a full refund. He also said that if they no longer want to travel, any customer—regardless of whether they have a non-refundable or a basic economy ticket—will be able eligible for a refund. What People Are Saying In his official announcement, United Airlines CEO, Scott Kirby, stated, “Even with these schedule reductions, United and its United Express partners will still offer about 4,000 flights per day to fly our customers to their destinations. And because of the early November timing, our flights have more seats available than before the summer, meaning we should be able to find seats for many customers even if their flight is canceled.” At the press conference, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said, “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.” What Happens Next Passengers are advised to check airline websites and apps for the latest updates about their flights and refund status, as ongoing cuts and operational challenges are likely to remain while the shutdown continues.
