Image source, Getty Images
More than 5,000 flights were canceled or delayed this Friday in the United States, after airlines received government orders to reduce their operations due to the government shutdown.
The measure affects internal flights departing from 40 of the country’s main airports and aims to reduce pressure on air traffic controllers, who by law are obliged to continue working even if they are not receiving their salaries due to lack of budget.
The government shutdown in the US began on October 1, after Republicans and Democrats in Congress failed to agree to approve President Donald Trump’s government spending bill.
As a consequence, a large number of public institutions have been running out of funds to operate, which has led to layoffs, suspensions and cessation of operations of federal offices that have found themselves unable to honor the salaries of their employees.
In the case of airports, the government shutdown has meant that the lack of enough air traffic controllers – a long-standing problem in the US – has increased, as some of these workers have been calling in sick or taking second jobs to cover their living expenses while continuing to work without government pay.
Between cancellations and delays of 4 hours
Image source, BBC / Kwasi Asiedu
The flight reduction responds to an emergency order issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and is designed to be applied in a phased manner.
Thus, for example, this Friday, 4% of internal flights began to be cut, but that figure will increase to 10% by the end of next week and – according to the Secretary of Transportation, Sean Duffy – they could rise to 15% or 20% “if the government shutdown does not end relatively soon.”
In any case, the effects of the measure are already visible in the country’s main airports, including those that serve cities such as New York, Los Angeles or Chicago.
By Friday afternoon, more than 1,000 flights had already been canceled and 4,130 had suffered delays on routes in, to and out of the United States.
In the case of Reagan Airport serving the capital, Washington DC, the average flight delay was 4 hours.
Refunds and flight changes
Image source, Getty Images
Airlines are taking steps to comply with the government-mandated reduction, and several have already notified their customers that they will receive refunds for canceled flights.
In a memo seen by the BBC, sent by United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby to employees of that company, it was indicated that any customer can receive a refund even if their flight has not been canceled or if they purchased non-refundable economy tickets. The text also said that the airline will waive charging the fare difference when customers ask to change their flights.
Delta Airlines is pursuing a similar policy.
In the case of American Airlines, it has said it will allow customers to change flights or request a refund, without penalty, regardless of whether their flight was canceled or not.
Southwest Airlines, for its part, announced that customers whose flights are canceled can request a refund or be assigned to another flight.
In the case of Frontier Airlines, it said it will allow customers to change or cancel their flights without penalty, but if they change them they will have to pay the fare difference, if any.
Barry Biffle, CEO of that low-cost airline, suggested customers buy a “backup ticket” in case they have to attend a wedding, funeral or some event they must not miss.
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