The United States is in the middle of a historic government shutdown that began October 1. It today reached its 38th day, surpassing the longest past shutdown historically. The ongoing, unprecedented situation has resulted in cancellations and delays throughout the air travel network. Hundreds of flights nationwide have been canceled, as airlines have a hard time wading through the wake of the crisis. Lawmakers couldn’t reach consensus on a bill to fund the federal government’s myriad of services. It was this disagreement that led to the shutdown when the last federal budget ran out.
This standoff between Democrats and Republicans has led to a funding standstill that is showing no signs of letting up. All signs indicate that both sides are just as rock solid with their heels dug in over the budget as ever. This inflexibility has put air traffic controllers and many other federal employees in a binding bind. Air traffic controllers are still laboring without pay. This has created a severely dangerous situation as fatigue among these key workers is on the rise.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced this weekend more than 2,700 flight delays in major airports across the country. These delays were a direct result of the shutdown. As we’ve seen in these past few weeks, as airlines cut back on operations with the goal of keeping passengers safe, already canceled hundreds of flights. If the shutdown continues, federal agencies estimate that cancellations would climb to up to 3,500—maybe even 4,000—daily canceled flights.
At the same time, major airports across the country have been seeing extreme disruptions. Most glaringly, Atlanta, Dallas, Miami and New York all pop off the page on the FAA’s list of impacted locales. The effect overall on travelers has been tremendous, with thousands of people left in the lurch and unsure of what to do with their travel. As a result of this unprecedented government shutdown, some airlines have started proactively refunding customers whose flights have been canceled or impacted.
Fortunately, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy recently did just that, calling the country’s recent trend “troubling” in a statement. He underscored that safety, not political factors, drive the decision to cut flights.
“This isn’t about politics – it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue working without pay,” – Sean Duffy, US Transportation Secretary.
The FAA’s recent decision to throttle back on air traffic comes as concern grows about the safety and health of air traffic controllers themselves. According to some unions, hundreds of workers are becoming sick from stress related issues. To help them through this financially tough time, many of them are even picking up second jobs to do so. The emotional burden on these workers only adds to concerns about upholding safety standards in US airspace.
Travel expert Simon Calder pointed out that the consequences of this are felt well beyond just short-haul domestic flights.
“If transatlantic flights start being cancelled, then the difference in passenger rights between UK and EU flights and US flights will become clear,” – Simon Calder.
Travelers on US airlines may find themselves facing limited recourse for cancellations or delays, with airlines often stating:
“If you’re on a US airline then they can say ‘we’re not covered by these rights, find yourself your own hotel and we’ll fly you out when we can.’”
Though the shutdown continues, both riders and employees have suffered from this extended emergency. Similarly, the air travel industry continues to face one of the most unprecedented levels of uncertainty. At the same time, travelers face the challenge of an overwhelming and chaotic environment. Now Congress is at an impasse. These alternatives make us wonder whether we have to live with this crisis for the long run.