Copyright caymancompass
Flight disruptions linked to the ongoing US government shutdown – which began on 1 Oct. and is now the longest in American history – are beginning to stir anxiety among Cayman travellers, both to and from Owen Roberts International Airport. US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced a temporary 10% reduction in flights at 40 high-traffic airports, beginning 7 Nov., citing “increased reports of strain on the system from both pilots and air traffic controllers”. Duffy announced that flight operations at 40 major US airports were reduced by 4% starting Friday, 7 Nov., with the cuts set to gradually rise to 10% over the course of the week. While direct flights between the Cayman Islands and the US remain largely unaffected, many travellers with domestic US connections could feel the strain. Long security lines, delayed departures and last-minute rebookings are becoming increasingly common at major US airports as the Federal Aviation Administration moves to reduce flight schedules in response to mounting pressure on air traffic control staff who have been working without pay for more than a month. How flight cuts are impacting Cayman travellers According to data from FlightAware, more than 14,000 delays were recorded across the US by mid-morning Friday, including 1,542 within, into or out of the US. Airlines hit hardest included JetBlue (39% of flights delayed), Southwest (29%) and American Airlines (25%). As of noon on 7 Nov., Miami International Airport – Cayman’s main US gateway – was experiencing a relatively modest impact with about 5% of flights delayed. However, airports such as Newark (57%), LaGuardia (63%) and Boston Logan (39%) were reporting more severe slowdowns. The Federal Aviation Administration emphasised that international flights are not part of the mandatory reductions, but for many Cayman travellers, that technicality offers little comfort. Dana Gates, a Seattle resident flying to Grand Cayman via Charlotte, received an email from American Airlines stating that, due to the ongoing shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration had ordered flight schedule reductions but assuring passengers that most travel would remain unaffected and impacted customers would be notified in advance. For travellers like Sue Collins, who plans to visit Cayman from Maryland next week, the uncertainty has added stress to what should be a long-awaited vacation. “We travel from Maryland to Grand Cayman on the 12th and, not gonna lie, it’s stressing me out already,” said Collins. “Vacation time is so precious and no one wants delays when you’ve worked so many hours to earn time off.” Viviana Martinez, who is flying to Cayman from Houston with a layover in Orlando, echoed that concern. “I understand that they wouldn’t be as affected if they were direct flights,” said Martinez. “It’s possible that the Orlando-to-Cayman flight might not be affected, but the Houston-to-Orlando one could be. So … indirectly they could still be affected. And we’re talking about a group of 12 of us.” Travellers flying out of Cayman are also feeling uneasy. “We were supposed to fly out on Monday for an appointment on Tuesday, but we moved our flight to Sunday instead,” said Cayman resident Gina Cox. “That way, if there are delays between Miami International and Jacksonville, we’ll still have time to drive the six hours and make it on time.” Mindy Hennings of Cayman Travel Services says it’s only a matter of time before Cayman passengers start feeling the pinch. “Passengers leaving Cayman and making connections in the affected airports could see delays and cancellations of their flights,” said Hennings. “The security lines have already been affected, with many TSA staff not showing up to work. Delays have been up to three hours in Houston airport. “If they don’t open the government soon, I fear what travel over the Thanksgiving and Christmas season will be like. A true nightmare! Everyone should give themselves plenty of extra time when travelling in the coming weeks.” Local officials monitoring shutdown Despite growing uncertainty among travellers, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority said operations at Owen Roberts International Airport remain unaffected. A spokesperson confirmed the authority is aware of the Federal Aviation Administration’s emergency order establishing operating limitations on US airspace, but said that, from Cayman’s perspective, “it’s business as usual”. The authority advised passengers to check directly with their airlines for updates on any delays or cancellations. Cayman Airways also confirmed that its operations have not been affected by the shutdown. “At this time, Cayman Airways remains unimpacted, but we are continuing to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates to our customers if any changes become necessary to our flight operations that may affect their travel plans between the Cayman Islands and our US gateway cities,” said a Cayman Airways spokesperson. The US federal government entered a shutdown at midnight on 1 Oct. after lawmakers failed to pass new funding bills. The duration of the impasse remains uncertain. On 2 Oct., Cayman’s Acting Premier Gary Rutty, who is also minister of tourism, issued a statement reassuring the public that “The Ministry of Tourism, together with Cayman Airways and industry partners, will continue to monitor developments closely and will provide timely public updates on any material impact for visitors or residents.” He noted that it is the priority of the ministry “to safeguard the strength of Cayman’s tourism industry and to ensure continued reliable connectivity and a seamless travel experience to and from the Cayman Islands”.
