U.S. airlines started cancelling hundreds of flights on Friday, hours after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered the cuts amid the more-than-month long government shutdown.
The cuts were ordered as air traffic controllers have missed their paychecks due to the government shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history. Air traffic control staffing shortages have been disrupting flights at several major U.S. airports, vexing travelers and airline executives alike.
More than 700 U.S. flights were canceled as of 9 a.m. ET Friday, according to aviation data firm Cirium, about 3% of the total schedule for the day. That scale of disruption is fairly common for routine disruptions like major thunderstorms, but the Department of Transportation warned that cancellations could ramp up.
They should prioritize canceling private jets.
See how fast this ends.
People should be aware:
The reason this is happening is that more and more of the ridiculously overworked ATC staff are done with killing themselves and not even getting a shitty paycheck for it. And, because of assholes like reagan, there are very strict penalties if any of them are deemed to be “striking”.
Even if the government reopens this afternoon and all backpay is paid out… a lot of those ATC folk have found new jobs. And that is going to continue to have knock on effects for years to come.
The FlightAware Misery Map is here to stay.
Even if the government reopens this afternoon and all backpay is paid out… a lot of those ATC folk have found new jobs.
Oh shit.
This is how you slowly collapse a civilization.
Slowly? It’s been less than a year…
Also, the way travel is operated in America needs major re regulations. Honestly, outside of people traveling for emergencies, we as Americans need to stop giving airlines or money.
Honestly, outside of people traveling for emergencies, we as Americans need to stop giving airlines or money.
This is an odd take. Are you advocating for people to travel by car/train/boat or for people to stop traveling at all (except for emergencies?)
Trumps best climate initiative so far :)
PRO TIP: Don’t elect Republicans. Or vote for Jill Stein thinking anything will happen other than a Republican winning.
Man, what a week. I’ve had scheduled most of the year a vacation to take my kid to Disney world for their fourth birthday. My in laws were supposed to meet us in Florida, but their flight got canceled today. Fuck Trump.
Good! Republicans are putting the lives of Americans in danger with their bullshit.
Wish we could freeze their assets and stocks, and start selling them off to pay
off debtthe actual workers.Bro that’s just called taxing rich people
Naww we can’t do that, man! Clearly they need their 10th house, 3rd yacht, and 2nd private jet! Homeless kids be damned!
Sooo if they hit the 5,000 daily mark like suggested that’s about $70,000,000 revenue lost daily. This could be the needle to pop the bubble. Here’s to hopping.
Whoa slow down. No one is hopping on flights yet!
If the problem is the total number of planes in the air relative to ATC capacity, shouldn’t low-volume planes be grounded first? Prioritize large commercial flights and ground private planes, right?
I’ll bet it’s the opposite. They’re shifting the cancellations/ATC stress to commercial flights while private flights are unaffected
Flights aren’t evenly distributed. Most flights go through big city airports. That’s where the busy, stressed ATCs are. Canceling infrequent private jets at regional airports won’t relieve them.
What’re the odds on thanksgiving? Wondering if I’m going to miss out on visiting my right-wing in-laws.
And you’re VEEEERY upset about that, right?
Oh, I’d be devastated.
I’m praying for you that the shutdown continues.
In all honesty, it’s a pretty limited silver lining considering people aren’t eating because of the shutdown. And my in-laws would probably blame democrats anyway. But at least they’d feel a modicum of suffering, not getting to see their son and grandchildren and all, because of their own voting patterns.
Why do you need a government shutdown to not see your in-laws? Grow a spine.
Because I respect my partner’s desire to see his parents? Grow a heart.
Failed state.
