Copyright ABC News
Airlines are sharing contingency plans and options for ticketed passengers who may be impacted by shutdown-related flight reductions starting Friday. The Federal Aviation Administration announced a directive on Wednesday to cut 10% of flights to 40 U.S. airports amid the ongoing federal government shutdown, prompting carriers to quickly shift flight schedules in order to maintain safe airspace operations. Airlines respond to FAA flight schedule changes, cancellations With offers ranging from waivers to refunds, here's what airlines want travelers to know. American Airlines The Fort Worth, Texas-based carrier said Thursday it expects the vast majority of its travel to be unaffected. Long-haul international travel will remain as scheduled. "Disrupting customers' plans is the last thing we want to do," it stated. "To provide additional flexibility during the impacted travel period, customers whose flights are cancelled for any reason or who choose not to travel will be able to change their flight or request a refund without any penalty." The airline encouraged customers to check their flight status on its website or mobile app for the latest updates. Delta Air Lines Despite the FAA flight reductions, Delta announced Thursday that it "expects to operate the vast majority of our flights as scheduled, including all long-haul international service," adding that it will "work to minimize customer impact while keeping safety our top priority." The Atlanta-based airline said it is "providing additional flexibility" for customers who are "traveling to, from or through the impacted markets during the impacted travel period," allowing them "to change, cancel or refund their flights, including Delta Main Basic fares, without penalty during this travel period." As with other carriers, Delta has urged passengers to check their flight status online or in the Delta app for real-time information. Southwest Airlines The low-cost carrier announced it will communicate cancellations directly with customers via the contact information used at booking and will automatically rebook customers where possible. Customers will get a message in the Southwest app or online if they "retrieve a trip with a canceled flight," the airline said. Customers who are rebooked automatically will receive a follow-up message once they have been rebooked. Passengers whose flights are canceled and decide not to travel will be eligible for a refund. If they choose not to travel on a rebooked itinerary, they must cancel at least 10 minutes before the new flight departure time, Southwest said. Details on available passenger options and how to rebook a flight can be found on the Southwest Airlines website. "Nothing is more important to Southwest than the Safety of our Customers and Employees," the airline stated. "We know that these FAA-imposed cancellations can impact an important moment in your life. We appreciate your understanding." JetBlue JetBlue issued a travel alert for customers on Thursday, outlining how it will contact customers if their flight is impacted by the planned flight reductions and stating it will automatically rebook where possible. "If your flight is affected, we'll reach out using the contact information in your reservation," the airline stated. In most cases, the carrier said, passengers will automatically be rebooked on the next available JetBlue flight. For canceled flights, passengers who choose not to travel can request a full refund, it said. "JetBlue is actively monitoring the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA's) planned flight reductions and evaluating potential impacts to our schedule," the airline stated. "We are committed to keeping our customers informed and will communicate any changes as soon as possible."
