US airlines scrambled to cut four per cent of flights at 40 major airports today after the government imposed an unprecedented cut to air travel citing air traffic control safety concerns because of a record-setting government shutdown.
The cuts, which began at 11am Irish time, include about 700 flights from the four largest carriers – American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines – and are set to rise to 6% on Tuesday and then 10% by 14 November if the shutdown does not end.
The cuts do not apply to international flights.
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom does not expect significant disruption for customers from initial government-ordered flight reductions, he said today, warning that increased cuts would be “problematic”.
“This level of cancellation is going to grow over time and that’s something that is going to be problematic,” Mr Isom told CNBC.
Cuts are expected to be less tomorrow since airlines generally fly fewer flights on Saturdays.
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United Airlines said half of its impacted customers were able to be rebooked within four hours of their original departure time.
The Federal Aviation Administration did not publish the list of airports impacted until last night – less than 12 hours before the cuts took effect – and largely rejected concerns airlines raised after they received a draft order.
Airlines were also dealing with the fallout from continuing air traffic controller absences as the FAA slows flights to address staffing issues.
Earlier this week, FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said 20-40% of controllers were not showing up for work on any given day.
During the record long 38-day government shutdown, 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners have been forced to work without pay.
The FAA imposed ground delay programmes today slowing flights at Austin and Reagan Washington National due to staff shortages.
The FAA is restricting space launches as well.
It also warned it could reject specific cuts if they disproportionately impacted certain communities and could cut up to 10% of general aviation flights at high-traffic airports if staffing issues arose.
