Delta Airlines is reassuring potential travellers over the Thanksgiving and Christmas period after uncertainty and delays during the US Government shutdown.
Delta confirms they are operating as normal
The US Government shutdown saw passengers stranded in airports and scattered across the United States waiting for delayed and cancelled flights. On Sunday 9 November, 10,000 delays were recorded across America – the highest number of delays over the entire 44-day shutdown.
Most recently, in early November, the FAA declared a 6% flight reduction capacity. This was done due to air traffic control staff, and airport staff calling out of work due to not being paid. These caps are ‘on pause’ momentarily until more recent levels of flight traffic are available to the FAA safety team.
U.S Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy announced:
“President Trump’s message has been heard loud and clear: controllers will be made whole quickly. The FAA safety team is encouraged to see our air traffic control staffing surge, and they feel comfortable with pausing the reduction schedule to give us time to review the airspace. The data is going to guide what we do because the safety of the American people comes first. If the FAA safety team determines the trend lines are moving in the right direction, we’ll put forward a path to resume normal operations.”
The FAA reiterates that their top priority is safety in this busy travel season
Federal Aviation Administrator, Bryan Bedford, stated in a report that controller staffing is improving, with the end of shutdown meaning more staff are attending shifts (and being paid for their work). The improvement in attendance of staffing means the FAA can ‘continue to monitor system performance hour by hour, and we won’t hesitate to make further adjustments if needed’.
Erik Snell, Chief Customer Experience Officer for Delta made another important notice for customers:
‘While the government shutdown is behind us, we understand the uncertainty may have led you to rethink or reschedule your travel plans. Rest assured, our operations are running normally, and Delta people remain dedicated to safely delivering the premium, reliable experiences you expect – the same qualities that carried us through even the most challenging times, including the longest government shutdown in history’.
Snell also praised Delta’s 100,000 employees worldwide, acknowledging their service and dedication during the shutdown.
Before you fly
Before travelling over the holiday period, be sure to stay up to date on the status of your flight on either the Fly Delta App, or at Delta.com
