Air travelers face frustration as FAA increases flight cuts during the government shutdown

AP Air travelers could face more frustration as busy U S airports need to meet a higher Federal Aviation Administration target for reducing flights Tuesday after already canceling thousands to scale back demands on the nation s aviation system during the governing body shutdown Absences and signs of stress among traffic controllers who haven t been paid in over a month made it imperative to cut flights in the name of populace safety the FAA announced ordering domestic airlines last week to drop of their flights at major U S airports After already canceling more than since Friday the goal for cutting flights rose to on Tuesday and again to on Friday Nearly flights were canceled Tuesday according to FlightAware a website that tracks air voyage disruptions It was unclear exactly how multiple additional flights would need to be canceled for the day but there are fewer flights scheduled on Tuesdays and Wednesdays Severe weather is adding to the cancellations at chosen airports The average cancellation rate over the last limited days already exceeded the FAA s requirement according to aviation analytics company Cirium The FAA also expanded its flight restrictions Monday barring business jets and a great number of private flights from using a dozen airports already under commercial flight limits However controller shortages continued to lead to flight delays including one of about five hours for arriving flights Monday evening at Chicago O Hare International Airport where wintry weather added to staffing-related disruptions earlier in the day The FAA warned that staffing at over a dozen towers and control centers could delay planes departing for Phoenix San Diego the New York area and Houston among other cities Freezing weather in parts of the country on Tuesday could cause further delays and cancellations The Senate passed act Monday to reopen the ruling body but the bill still demands to clear the House and final passage could be days away Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made clear last week that flight cuts will remain until the FAA sees safety metrics improve after staffing levels stabilize at its air traffic control facilities Plenty of planes also aren t where they re supposed to be which could slow the airlines return to normal operations even after the FAA lifts the order explained Mike Taylor who leads research on airports and airlines at J D Power Todd Walker reported he missed his mom s th birthday when his flight was canceled over the weekend All of this has real negative consequences for millions of Americans and it s unnecessary and avoidable he noted The FAA had come under criticism after its original order only applied to a very small subsection of private planes But several want to see even more done Patriotic Millionaires a group of wealthy Americans pushing for more progressive taxes is calling for all private jets to be grounded during the shutdown Rich people are taking their joyrides while average Americans don t make it to grandma s bedside in time disclosed Erica Payne its founder and president She added that none of its members that still fly private have broadcasted cancellations or delays since the FAA s order took effect Tuesday marks the second missed payday for controllers Chosen have started calling out of work citing stress and the need to take on second jobs It s unclear how swiftly controllers might be paid once the shutdown ends it took more than two months to receive full back pay after the -day shutdown that ended in disclosed Nick Daniels president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Donald Trump took to social media on Monday to pressure controllers to get back to work NOW He called for a bonus for those who ve stayed on the job and suggested docking pay for those who haven t Daniels noted the shutdown has made controllers demanding jobs even more stressful leading to fatigue and increased risks He mentioned the number who are retiring or quitting is growing by the day