US Airlines Cancel Over 2,500 Weekend Flights as Shutdown Impacts Air Travel
WASHINGTON – More than 2,500 flights within, into, or out of the United States were canceled over the weekend as a partial government shutdown entered its third day, disrupting travel plans for thousands and raising concerns about broader economic impacts. The cancellations, primarily affecting flights on Friday and Saturday, stemmed from increased air traffic control delays and staffing concerns, though longer international flights have so far remained uninterrupted.
The disruptions highlight the vulnerability of the nation’s air travel system to government shutdowns.While airlines were largely able to reschedule flights impacted on Friday, uncertainty remains regarding future cancellations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is operating with a reduced workforce, leading to slowdowns and impacting flight schedules.
Heather Xu, 46, found herself stranded in Miami after a cruise while attempting to return to Puerto Rico. “Travel is stressful enough,” she said. “then you put these disruptions in place, and it really makes everything more challenging.”
Rental car companies reported a surge in one-way reservations Friday, and some travelers opted to cancel flights altogether. Diana Alvear of Bridgewater, New Jersey, canceled her family’s planned trip to California next weekend, citing worries about flying with understaffed and overworked air traffic controllers. United Airlines provided a credit for the airfare, but Alvear’s family still faces a $700 loss on a non-refundable Airbnb deposit. “This has been costly to us, and it’s a huge disappointment for us and our family,” she stated. “It’s really weighing on our hearts that we had to do this.”
Beyond passenger travel, the disruptions could lead to higher prices for goods as nearly half of U.S. air freight is transported in the cargo holds of passenger planes. patrick Penfield, a professor of supply chain practice at Syracuse University, warned that increased shipping costs could be passed on to consumers.
Greg Raiff, CEO of Elevate Aviation Group, emphasized the wider economic consequences. “this shutdown is going to impact everything from cargo aircraft to people getting to business meetings to tourists being able to travel,” Raiff said. “It’s going to hit the hotel taxes and city taxes. There’s a cascading effect that results from this thing.”