What Canadian Airlines Are Saying After U.S. Flight Disruptions
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a 10 percent reduction in air traffic at 40 high-volume U.S. airports starting Friday. By Friday morning, more than 800 flights linked to the U.S. were cancelled, according to FlightAware.
Context of the Situation
The U.S. government has been shut down since October 1, marking the longest shutdown in the country's history. Air traffic controllers have been working without pay for nearly six weeks, causing staffing shortages and flight delays.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, referring to staffing issues and pilot safety reports about controller fatigue, said: “We did not want to wait until the situation reached a crisis point.”
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated: “There’ll be frustration, but our sole role is to make sure that we keep this airspace as safe as possible.”
Affected Airports
CBS News received a list of impacted airports which include major hubs such as:
- Dallas/Fort Worth
- Chicago O’Hare
- All three New York area airports: Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Newark
- Far-flung destinations like Anchorage and Honolulu
Canadian Airlines’ Response
Air Canada told National Post they are monitoring the ongoing situation and awaiting more information about the planned reductions. Currently, they are maintaining their normal schedules but remain cautious about customers connecting to U.S. flights.
Author’s summary: Canadian airlines are closely watching significant U.S. air traffic cuts amid government shutdown-induced staffing shortages, aiming to manage travel disruptions safely.