Nearly 5,000 flights cancelled or delayed on Friday, subject to more following a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandate to gradually increase air travel reductions to 10%. The new rule went into effect on Friday, Nov. 7, as the first day recorded flight cancellations due to a significant shortage of workers amid the federal funding impasse.
ATC – key players impacted
As essential federal workers, the air traffic controllers continue working without pay to ensure the smooth functioning and safety of the airlines and passengers. However, this is marked as the longest shutdown ever in the history, with workers seeking alternative job options to pay off their bills. Unions have highlighted how many are affected due to longer period of working, stress-related illnesses and fatigue.
The president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA), Nick Daniels, told Fox News,
We’re showing up to work every day the best way that we can to get through this crisis, but this isn’t something that we asked for, yet here we are the rope in the tug-of-war game that we didn’t ask for at all and we should not be used as political pawns in any way, shape, or form for these shutdowns.
Staffing issues are surfacing as last week, at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported potential staffing limits, according to an AP analysis of operations plans shared through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center system.
To ease the pressure on the ATC, FAA announced on Thursday to cut down flights at 40 busiest U.S. airports. The FAA said that the cuts would potentially not affect the international flights.
Flight cancellations to increase?
U.S. Transportation Secretary, Sean Duffy, has officially announced the list of 40 airports that would be affected due to the shutdown. The cancellations could affect roughly 4,000 flights per day. The flight reductions will be gradual starting from 4% of domestic flights on Friday (Nov. 7) to 10% by Nov. 14. Duffy also fears that this could increase to 20% as the ATC miss work and the government shutdown continues, reports Fox News.
Duffy said in a statement,
Our number one job is safety. This isn’t about politics – it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay
A few of the airports being affected are: Boston Logan International (BOS), Newark Liberty International (EWR), New York John F Kennedy International (JFK), Los Angeles International (LAX) and Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA).
Are the passengers being compromised?
Major airlines have ensured that the passengers won’t bear the cost of the cancelled flights.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, shared with the BBC that the airlines will not charge any extra amount to the passengers. This includes waiving off fare differences on rebooked flights. Refunds would be issued to customers on cancelled flights, non-refundable tickets, and economy class tickets ensuring customers are accommodated as swiftly as possible.
Similarly, Delta Airlines have also stated that they would issue refunds, allow change or cancellation of flights, even on economy tickets without any extra cost. However, the fee waiver is applicable only if the rebooked flight is on or before Nov. 16.
American Airlines has issued a travel waiver. The airlines provide immense flexibility to the customers allowing them to issue refund without any penalty, to cancel or change their flights. The same policy is adopted by the Southwest Airlines but limited to Nov. 12.
Frontier Airlines has specified if the cancellation or delay of flights lasts for more than 3 hours (for domestic) and 6 hours (for international), then customers can rebook or request for a refund. Other flexible travel options are also available on their website or app.
Alaska Airlines has confirmed 100% flight rebooking for customers affected on Nov. 7. Airlines will communicate with the customers if they have been impacted by delays or cancellations.
As the adjustments continue, it remains unclear when the government shutdown will end. Negotiations continue between the Republicans and Democrats. Will this impact the aviation industry further? Let us know in the comments below.
