Dave Schilling, a writer based in Los Angeles, faces an impending journey to Pittsburgh this month, not without significant challenges. As he gets ready for his trip, he deals with the indignities of getting onto a flight in this new age of airline mayhem. Last year, more than 30 million passengers flew the friendly (and crowded) skies last Thanksgiving holiday. This year’s travel outlook doesn’t appear any less bleak, as the U.S. could cut as much as 10% of U.S. air traffic by Friday if a shutdown deal isn’t made.
Schilling’s urgent destination is Pittsburgh, where he thinks they might be able to resettle in the city where his mother kept an ancestral property. She benefits from a steady stream of passive income from her 401k. Now, she can run her air conditioner without fear of the price tag. His mother’s house brings them a little respite. Now, in sharp counterpoint, the bedlam at every airport turns that dream of moving into the most attractive option imaginable.
Beyond the temporary roofs, living with his mother would provide Schilling a safety net. It would just make his own travel home for the holidays much easier. He believes that avoiding holiday travel could significantly reduce fossil fuel consumption and help alleviate congestion and understaffing at airports. Airlines saw their largest October layoffs in 22 years. This record-breaking surge is indicative of the extreme stress faced by our travel and tourism industries.
Schilling’s frustrations echo the sentiments of many in the travel community. With 1,800 flights likely to be affected per day at peak, he professionally advocates a measured and critical view of how government spends its limited resources.
“What I would suggest is that, if one can find the money to pay ICE agents and the military, surely there must be a few billion lying around to pay the person who keeps planes from exploding.” – Dave Schilling
As he continues to confront these challenges, Schilling wonders what the effect of continuing disruptions will be on essential workers all over the industry. These essential workers are feeling the doubly-whammy-pinch from above as they help orchestrate a new-and-shaky-normal in air travel.
With the very real possibility that airline operators will continue to reduce service indefinitely, the value of air transportation to America is at stake. With the holidays fast approaching, travelers are anxious to rejoin family and friends this holiday season. A threatened reduction in air traffic might throw a wrench into their plans. Schilling’s personal challenge reflects a broader tale being told across the aviation industry. Travelers are facing anxiety and frustration as they navigate the options available to them.