If you’ve been following the news, you may be aware that the current U.S. government shutdown has started to impact some flights throughout the country. According to CBS News, these impacts could become more serious as early as this week, with 40 airports having their air traffic cut by 10%.
If you’re flying to Disney World or Universal Orlando, you might need to be aware that Orlando is one of those airports that could face those cuts.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to reduce airline capacity due to the government shutdown. Capacity will be reduced by 10% at some of the country’s busiest airports, including Orlando, Atlanta, Dallas, New York, Los Angeles, and more. This is to deal with the current shortage of air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for over a month.
These cuts are expected to start being phased in as early as Friday, November 7th, with airlines meeting the 10% capacity cuts by next week. A proposed list of airports includes 40 airports in total, including major cities and airline hubs, as well as airports with a lot of cargo traffic. This list is not final, and could change, as the FAA has not formally verified these cuts, as of yet. The affected airports, though, could be:
- Anchorage International (ANC)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Boston Logan International (BOS)
- Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
- Dallas Love (DAL)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
- Newark Liberty International (EWR)
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
- Honolulu International (HNL)
- Houston Hobby (HOU)
- Washington Dulles International (IAD)
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
- Indianapolis International (IND)
- New York John F Kennedy International (JFK)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- Orlando International (MCO)
- Chicago Midway (MDW)
- Memphis International (MEM)
- Miami International (MIA)
- Minneapolis/St Paul International (MSP)
- Oakland International (OAK)
- Ontario International (ONT)
- Chicago O`Hare International (ORD)
- Portland International (PDX)
- Philadelphia International (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
- San Diego International (SAN)
- Louisville International (SDF)
- Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Salt Lake City International (SLC)
- Teterboro (TEB)
- Tampa International (TPA)
If you are flying on Friday or next week, we recommend having multiple ways to get notifications from your airline, including emails, texts, and notifications through the airline’s app. Many airlines have already posted details about these cuts to social media. For example, United Airlines is offering a refund for all flights during this period, including non-refundable and basic economy tickets. You’ll want to check with your airline to see how they’re handling this issue.
Check back with AllEars again soon for more.
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Somebodies Gotta say it … why is there any reason for the TSA and Air Traffic Controllers not getting paid ? Why ? Every airport collects a “terminal fee” that is anywhere from $18 to $40, sometimes more if you have multiple departures/plane switches for a round trip domestic ticket. On international flights the fee starts at $100. That is on EVERY ticket. Take those funds and pay the people who are affected. There is no reason or the TSA inspectors and Air Traffic Controllers to not be paid for the work they do. I know the terminal fees go toward maintenance, etc … but for right now if the planes aren’t flying and people aren’t there … maintenance won’t matter. Pay them !