The ongoing United States government shutdown — still underway — will have lasting effects on air travel that won’t be easy to resolve.
According to ABC News, experts say that airlines will need days to get to their regular schedules after the government ends its directive to slash flights. Airlines of America shared a similar sentiment November 10 after the Senate voted to reopen the government.
Last week, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) called for flight reductions at 40 airports nationwide. On November 11, Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Sean Duffy said in a press conference that when air travel returns to regular operations depends on the amount of risk presented. The latter is determined by the continuously changing data factors influenced by the shutdown, air traffic controller shortages, and airline schedules. Duffy emphasized that flight delays and cancellations are a “secondary problem,” behind travelers’ safety.
“We are going to look at the data and make the best decisions possible to keep the traveling public safe,” he said during the press conference. “It’s been a lot of conversations, a lot of analysis, and making the best decisions we can possible, with the information we have, and the controllers we have.”
“We’re going to wait to see the data on our end before we take out the restrictions in travel,” said Duffy. “But it depends on controllers coming back to work.”
Moreover, former FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt told NPR’s All Things Considered that the mess the shutdown has caused on air travel is “gonna take a bit to unwind.”
“The airplanes are in the wrong cities and so forth. They’re going to have to sort all that out as well. So a good deal of the responsibility will be the carriers getting their schedules and the aircraft and personnel back in the right positions to resume normal flying,” he said.
What Are Airlines Saying?
If the government shutdown doesn’t end soon, Duffy said there could be an over 10% reduction in flights, as well as airlines that ground their flights altogether.
Alaska Airlines said November 7 that it’s complying with the FAA’s flight reduction mandate while also “maintaining the highest possible schedule reliability.”
On November 11, American Airlines said it’s “encouraged by the progress being made in Washington, D.C.” as the shutdown seemingly inches toward an end. The carrier also noted its gratefulness to “federal aviation workers who continue working without pay to keep our skies safe.” That same day, Delta Air Lines shared that safety remains its priority. The latter carrier added that it continues to “coordinate with the FAA,” and that it “expects to operate the vast majority of our flight schedule.”
JetBlue says the “vast majority” of its flights will also “operate as planned.”
Southwest Airlines notes that it’s complying with the FAA’s regulations. As has United Airlines, which told its customers that it “won’t compromise on safety.”
What Is The Best Way To Navigate Current U.S. Air Travel?
Travelers can make some strategic moves to help them best navigate the impacts of the government shutdown on U.S. air travel. Two of them include booking flexible tickets directly on an airline’s website. Doing so could make it easier to cancel or change your travel arrangements, should you need to. Also, booking flights during “off-peak” times helps you avoid the worst of when an airport is most congested during the day. That is especially considering additional delays due to disruptions at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints because of the shutdown.
Having an airline’s app on your phone could be one of the best ways to receive real-time updates about your travels. You can also check the carrier’s social media accounts. Travelers should also check for updates shared by the airports they are flying out of.
