What Canadian Airlines Are Advising After U.S. Flight Disruptions
Many cross-Canada flights pass through U.S. airspace, so disruptions south of the border heavily impact Canadian travellers. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 of the busiest airports starting Friday.
Flight tracking website FlightAware reported that over 800 flights connected to the U.S. were cancelled as of Friday morning. This situation arises amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, ongoing since October 1.
Impact of the U.S. Government Shutdown
Due to the shutdown, many air traffic controllers have been working without pay for almost six weeks. This has caused staffing shortages and significant delays for flights.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford explained, "Staffing pressures and safety reports from pilots indicating growing fatigue among controllers" prompted action. He and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy "did not want to wait until the situation reached a crisis point."
What This Means for Canadian Travellers
- Expect delays or cancellations for flights crossing U.S. airspace.
- Flight schedules may be adjusted due to capacity reductions at major U.S. airports.
- Travel plans should allow extra time to accommodate potential disruptions.
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Author's summary: The ongoing U.S. government shutdown has forced the FAA to reduce flight traffic, causing significant cancellations and delays that affect cross-Canada travel through U.S. airports.