As the U.S. government shutdown threatens to disrupt travel plans across the nation, travelers are bracing for potential flight cancellations, altered itineraries, and the possibility of spending their holidays stranded in airports.
According to the Western Journal, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has announced plans to reduce air traffic at 40 airports starting Friday, sparking widespread concern among those with imminent travel plans.
Talia Dunyak, a 31-year-old public relations professional, expressed her apprehension about her upcoming flight from Vienna to Philadelphia, one of the airports targeted by the FAA for flight cutbacks. "Oh no," she said, "I'm really hoping my flights don't get canceled."
Dunyak's trip, which includes meeting her newborn niece, attending business meetings, and celebrating Thanksgiving with family, has been meticulously planned. The potential disruptions have left her wondering about the fate of her journey. "It's such a busy time to travel and there's not so many direct flights," she said. "I might end up in some nightmare."
The FAA's plan, although its exact parameters have not been disclosed, is expected to disrupt travel across large parts of the country. The affected airports span more than two dozen states and include some of the busiest hubs, such as Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, and San Francisco. In some of the largest cities, like New York, Houston, and Chicago, multiple airports will be impacted.
This uncertainty has led some, like Laura Adams from Vero Beach, Florida, to abandon plans of flying altogether. Adams, who typically flies with her husband to spend Thanksgiving with his family in Fair Hope, Alabama, has decided to embark on a 10-hour drive instead. "We really felt quite uneasy and just didn't want to risk having a flight cancellation or a delay or getting stuck," Adams said. "It just seems really risky."
Jennifer Dombrowski, a 45-year-old American residing in Bordeaux, France, has also adjusted her travel plans. She's due to visit her hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania, for the first time in two years next week. To avoid potential disruptions at U.S. airports, she has decided to fly to Toronto and then drive to visit her parents, including her terminally ill father. "I don't really want to deal," she said.
Major airlines, including United, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines, have announced that they will offer refunds to passengers who choose not to fly, even if their tickets are typically non-refundable. United Airlines also stated that it would focus on reducing smaller regional routes.
Joseph Trainor, a 55-year-old who commutes between New York and his home in Boynton Beach, Florida, every week, has canceled his flights for next week. He is also considering booking multiple backup routes for future trips, anticipating that his regular flights may be affected. "I'm afraid the flights I'm on are going to cancel," he said. "It's going to cause a cascading effect throughout the system."
Despite the potential for disruption, Trainor expressed his admiration for the Transportation Security Administration agents who continue to work without pay as the shutdown entered its 37th day on Thursday. "They're the heroes keeping the system going, and I don't know if the government realizes how much air traffic and our economy is based on that," Trainor said.
As the shutdown continues, the impact on the nation's air travel and the economy at large remains to be seen.
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