Impact of Government Shutdown on Holiday Travel
As Thanksgiving and Christmas approach, the ongoing government shutdown is starting to disrupt travel plans for Americans. With operational changes set to begin next week, there’s increasing pressure on Democrats to negotiate and reopen the government.
Reports indicate that around 700 to 800 flights have been canceled due to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) emergency order, which took effect on Friday, affecting major travel hubs.
This level of cancellations, as one official noted, “is going to increase over time and it’s going to be a problem.”
About forty major airports are under this order, though many others are also feeling the strain. The transportation sector is voicing dissatisfaction given that the holiday travel season is almost upon us.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom shared his frustrations on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” explaining, “What we did today was to try to minimize the impact on all of our customers. We only had 220 out of 6,200 flights affected, but we did it in a way that significantly impacted our smaller aircraft.” He further remarked that this situation is likely to worsen.
The FAA’s emergency order was initiated on November 7 to maintain safe and efficient airspace usage. These cuts will gradually take effect over the coming week, with a 10% reduction set for “high-impact airports” from Anchorage to Orlando by November 10.
Interestingly, air traffic controllers have been operating without pay since October 3. As of now, this shutdown has surpassed the previous record of 35 days established in 2018.
Transport Secretary Sean Duffy acknowledged the increased strain on air travel and expressed commitment to ensuring safe transport. He emphasized that the situation is far from ideal and urged the government to reopen, labeling the shutdown as unprecedented.
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party has shown reluctance to negotiate with Republicans regarding government funding without further concessions on health care, suggesting that the ongoing 38-day shutdown might be extended.
