UPDATE: Flight cancellations are surging across major U.S. airports, including Newark Liberty Airport, where over 200 flights were cancelled on Sunday alone. With the FAA mandating airlines to reduce flights by 4% starting Friday, this number is expected to escalate to 10% by the end of the week. As the holiday travel rush approaches, concerns are mounting for travelers nationwide.
The ongoing government shutdown has put a strain on air traffic controllers, who are working without pay and enduring long hours. The FAA has stated that these flight cuts are essential to ensure passenger safety amid staffing shortages. Newark saw 44 flights cancelled, accounting for 7% of operations, while LaGuardia faced 58 cancellations, or 10%, and JFK Airport managed to keep it lower with only 25 flights, or 3%, cancelled.
Travelers like Andrea Kowk are feeling the impact. Kowk recounted her frustration as her flight was disrupted multiple times, stating, “I received another email saying that the flight was disrupted and these are my options: refund, reschedule the flight or an airline credit.” Faced with continuous changes, she opted to explore alternative travel options, including Amtrak.
Officials from the FAA and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy are urging travelers to check their flight statuses regularly. Duffy emphasized that even if the government shutdown ends, the path to normalcy for air travel will take time. “We anticipate delays will continue as airlines adjust to these necessary cancellations,” he warned.
Adding to the chaos, a runway construction project at Newark Liberty Airport over the weekend further complicated the situation. With Thanksgiving and other holiday travel just around the corner, travelers are advised to remain vigilant and flexible.
As the crisis evolves, passengers are encouraged to stay updated on flight statuses and make contingency plans. The travel landscape is changing rapidly, and the pressure on air traffic controllers remains high as lawmakers continue to debate the budget impasse.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops.
