The ongoing federal government shutdown is wreaking havoc on air travel, particularly at some of the busiest airports in the United States. On Saturday, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a flight reduction mandate, affecting the nation’s top 40 airports, including San Francisco International Airport and Oakland International Airport. As a result, travelers faced a significant number of cancellations and delays, with the situation expected to worsen as the shutdown persists.
Transportation Secretary has indicated that these flight reductions are a critical measure for public safety, attributing the need for fewer flights to a shortage of air traffic controllers. Many controllers are currently working without pay, and those who remain on the job are reporting excessive hours, sometimes taking on second jobs to manage their finances. According to FAA forecasts, if the shutdown continues, the number of flight cuts could increase by up to 10% by the following Friday.
At San Francisco International Airport, the disruptions were palpable, with FlightAware reporting nearly 40 cancellations and around 300 delays by Saturday evening. The average delay was approximately 54 minutes, largely due to workforce shortages.
Travelers like Lisa Biele and Kerri Gillet, who had flown in from New York for a week-long visit, experienced firsthand the chaos caused by the flight reductions. Their JetBlue flight back home was canceled after enduring two delays, forcing them to purchase last-minute tickets with Delta for a later evening flight. “Our flight was canceled after two delays. Now we’re stuck here for another 12 hours,” Gillet expressed, echoing the sentiments of many frustrated passengers. Biele lamented, “Definitely a major inconvenience. Twelve hours is a long time,” while Gillet shared her longing to reunite with her family, notably her eight-year-old daughter.
Scott Leyendecker, a business traveler bound for Texas, echoed the growing frustrations. His originally scheduled flight was pushed back and eventually canceled, forcing him to switch to an earlier flight on short notice, only for that flight to be delayed again. “I had to get a car for another day. I had to do hotel, all that stuff, extra cash that wasn’t in the budget,” he said, highlighting the additional financial burdens being placed on travelers.
In response to the uncertainty, some passengers are taking precautions to ensure they can still make it to their destinations. Will Van Trump, for instance, mentioned that he booked a backup flight with another airline, preparing for potential further disruptions. “Getting back, fingers crossed, I did book a backup flight on another airline coming back, so I have two flights that I can consider,” he noted.
Frustration levels among travelers are amplified, according to Julie Gainsley, a retired flight attendant turned airport concierge, who remarked on the visible stress among passengers, particularly families, as they wait for extended periods. “I’ve been seeing the canceled flights and the frustration, and the people sitting with their babies for hours because they can’t get somewhere. So the irritability level is rising,” she said. Gainsley voiced her concerns regarding the safety of flying under the current circumstances, noting that she would avoid flying until the shutdown concludes. “I am concerned [about safety] because when the air traffic controllers get fatigued, it takes a toll on everybody,” she stated.
Despite the setbacks, some travelers maintain hope for a swift resolution. Lisa and Kerri seized on a standby option provided by Delta and expressed optimism. “Hopefully, this whole shutdown will end shortly and people can get back to getting paid,” Gillet remarked, with Biele adding, “And everybody can travel without worrying about everything being up in the air at the last minute.”
Typically, San Francisco International Airport sees around 140,000 passengers on a Saturday. However, with the recent FAA-mandated flight reductions, countless travelers are now grappling with the challenges of long delays and canceled flights, underscoring the widespread impact of the ongoing federal government shutdown.
