Travelers brace for airport chaos as flight cuts begin: 'People are just fed up'
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Sandra Pleites has been looking forward to visiting her sister for months, trading in the crisp New Jersey weather for a sun-soaked trip with her kids to San Diego.Once a year, one side of the family hops on a flight and jets out to the other coast to spend some quality time together.
Pleites booked an Airbnb for herself, her fiancé and her two children, secured a rental car and was busy planning an itinerary of activities.But the government shutdown threw her — and thousands of other travelers — a massive curveball this week.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Thursday that it planned to cut air traffic by 10% at 40 airports nationwide to maintain travel safety as the government shutdown stretched into its second month.The shutdown already resulted in staffing shortages and periodical flight delays.
But the full flight reductions began Friday and could continue to worsen over the weekend.Officials urged passengers to check with airlines on the status of their flights and warned that flights could be canceled with little notice.California As Americans prepare for Thanksgiving holiday travel, the government shutdown is likely to result in more airport delays due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.The situation has left travelers angry and anxious.
Some tried to move their travel plans up, hoping to avoid the worst of the fallout from the flight reductions, while others are trying to figure out alternatives in case their flights are canceled.“It was supposed to be a fun, long weekend visiting my sister, but now I’m not even sure if it’s going to happen,” Pleites said.“I’m really upset and just frustrated because I was really excited about this trip.”In California, Los Angeles International Airport, Ontario International Airport, San Diego International Airport, Oakland International Airport and San Francisco International Airport will be ...