By Andrea Stevens
AFRO Staff Writer
astevens@afro.com
Flight reductions due to the federal shutdown continued on Nov. 10, snarling air traffic across the country even as the U.S. Senate took action to end the shutdown with a 60-40 vote on Nov. 9.
After the Federal Aviation Administration announced a sweeping temporary cut in flights at 40 major U.S. airports last week as part of a safety plan, thousands of delays and cancellations have left passengers stranded across the nation. The FAA’s plan began on Nov. 7, with the agency reducing operations by about 4 percent. The FAA will increase reductions to 6 percent by Nov. 11, 8 percent by Nov. 13 and 10 percent by Nov. 14, according to the order issued by Sean P. Duffy, U.S. Transportation Secretary, and Bryan Bedford, FAA Administrator.
More than 2,700 flights were cancelled between Nov. 7 and Nov. 9, according to the FAA. FlightAware, a company that tracks flights in real time, reported 21,220 delays on Nov. 10, in addition to 2,604 outright cancellations.
Since the shutdown began, controllers across the country have been working without pay and staffing triggers have been raised at several air-traffic facilities. Recently more than 2,740 delays were recorded by the FAA at various airports as pilots and air-traffic controllers reported rising strain on the system.
“My department has many responsibilities, but 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,” Duffy said.
The FAA said it was “seeing signs of stress in the system,” so officials began “proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely.”
Though the shutdown could end this week, aviation experts say the impact might continue to be felt in the weeks to come.
Lannah Biggs, a flight attendant based in Atlanta who recently had to pick up a part-time job to supplement her income, cautions others about flying during this time.
“If you plan on flying during the holiday, I would suggest having a back up plan,” said Biggs. “With the flights being so unpredictable– if it’s very important that you have to be somewhere– explore [your] options.”
The order applies only to domestic flights at 40 high-impact airports, including major hubs such as Hartsfield‑Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, and San Francisco International Airport and does not mandate reductions for international routes. Airlines are also determining which flights to cancel in order to meet the reduction mandates, but are required to offer full refunds when delays or cancellations are not the carrier’s fault.
With an end to the shutdown on the horizon, the 47th president of the United States took to social media to threaten the air traffic controllers who have been asked to work without pay, saying that they “must get back to work, NOW!!”
In his post, the president rambles on about the “Democrat Shutdown Hoax” and said he would be “recommending” a $10,000 bonus for air traffic controllers who didn’t take any time off while the federal government was closed.