The Federal Aviation Administration has announced the reduction in flights at 40 airports across the country due to the government shutdown.
According to CNBC, numerous major airlines said they would waive cancellation fees for even their most basic tickets.
“As we start to implement this drawdown in service, it will be restricted to these 40 high-volume traffic markets,” FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said. “We’re going to ask the airlines to work with us collaboratively to reduce their schedules.”
Sean Duffym, Transportation Secretary, said he planned to reduce flight capacity by roughly 10%. The reduction would affect 3,500 to 4,000 flights a day.
Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle posted on Instagram advice for his customers to follow.
“If you are flying Friday or in the next ten days and need to be there or don’t want to be stranded, I highly recommend booking a backup ticket on another carrier,” Biffle said.
“Don’t book a basic ticket. Book Economy on Frontier so you can reuse the ticket value as changes are free, or you can get a credit,” Biffle wrote. “If your flight is cancelled, your chances of being stranded are high. So I would simply have a backup ticket on another airline.”
Both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are offering waivers to allow passengers who do not want to fly to change their tickets without fees.
Since October 1, the government has been shut down, preventing federal employees from getting paid.
During the shutdown, air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration screeners are still expected to work.
Below is the full list of affected airports:
- Anchorage International (ANC)
- Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
- Boston-Logan International (BOS)
- Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
- Chicago Midway International (MDW)
- Chicago O’Hare International (ORD)
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
- Dallas-Fort Worth International (DFW)
- Dallas Love Field (DAL)
- Denver International (DEN)
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
- Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International (FLL)
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
- Honolulu International (HNL)
- Houston Hobby (HOU)
- Indianapolis International (IND)
- Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
- Los Angeles International (LAX)
- Louisville Muhammad Ali International (SDF)
- Memphis International (MEM)
- Miami International (MIA)
- Minneapolis-Saint Paul International (MSP)
- New York LaGuardia (LGA)
- New York John F. Kennedy International (JFK)
- Newark Liberty International (EWR)
- Oakland San Francisco Bay International (OAK)
- Ontario International (ONT)
- Orlando International (MCO)
- Philadelphia International (PHL)
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
- Portland International (PDX)
- Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
- San Diego International (SAN)
- Salt Lake City International (SLC)
- San Francisco International (SFO)
- Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA)
- Tampa International (TPA)
- Teterboro (TEB)
- Washington Dulles International (IAD)