Airlines in the US also canceled more than 1,000 flights on Saturday, the second day of the federal administration’s air shutdown due to the air shutdown.
So far, the slowdown at most of the nation’s busiest airports has not caused widespread disruption. But it deepens the impact felt by today’s highest federal government in the country.
“We all travel. We all have a place,” said Emmy Holgin, 36, who flew in from Miami on Saturday to visit family in the Dominican Republic for the week. “I hope the government can take care of it.”
Analysts warn that the chaos could grow and feel more like air travel if cancellations pick up and move away from the Thanksgiving Holiday.
There are concerns about the impact on towns and businesses that rely on tourism and the possibility of shipping disruptions that could take longer to get holiday goods off the shelves of holiday stores.
Here’s what to know about the reduced flight:
Both of the first two days of the FAA slowdown saw more than 1,000 flights canceled, according to Flacheaware, a website that tracks flight disruptions.
On Saturday – usually a slow travel day – the airport serving Charlotte, North Carolina, was the hardest hit, with 120 arrivals from noon.
Airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Denas, Denver and Orlando, Florida, were among the others with the most damage. Staffing shortages in Charlotte and Newark, New Jersey, have slowed traffic as well.
Not all cancellations are due to the fAA order, and those numbers represent a small portion of the total flights across the country. But they are sure to rise in the coming days if the slowdown continues.
The FAA said the reductions affecting all commercial airlines began with 4% of flights at 40 target airports and will be reduced again on Tuesday before winding down on Friday.
The US transportation secretary, Sean Duffy, warned that even more flight cuts may be necessary if the government shutdown continues and more government traffic controls.
Air traffic controllers have gone without pay for nearly a month as the shutdown continues, leading to more people getting sick and adding to staff shortages.
Most controllers worked six weeks of mandatory overtime during the shutdown without pay, and some claimed their wages, the National Air Controllers Association (NatcA) said.
Most travelers were relieved to find that most airlines remained on schedule on Friday, and those whose flights were called Quick Rebook. Until now, longer international flights have not been stopped.
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There is still much uncertainty about which flights will be canceled next.
And not everyone has the means to pay for a hotel or deal with a last-minute breakdown, said Heather Xu, 46, who was in Miami on Saturday in Puerto Rico.
“Travel is stressful enough. Then you put these breakdowns in place and it really makes everything more challenging,” he said.
Rental companies reported a sharp increase in reservations one way on Friday, and some people simply canceled flights altogether.
Other changes from the slowdown in air traffic may also include higher prices for stores, as almost half of Air Freights are sent by passenger airline blines.
Major flight disruptions can lead to higher shipping costs being passed on to consumers, said Patrick Penfield, professor of supply chain at Syracuse.
The biggest economic loss if the slowdown continues – from tourism to manufacturing, said Greg Raiff, CEO of the end of the aviation group.
“This shutdown is affecting everything from cargo planes to people caught in business meetings to tourists who can travel,” he said. “It will hit hotel taxes and city taxes. There will be a cascading effect resulting from this thing.”