Plan on travelling from Newark, LaGuardia or JFK soon? You might want to check your flight status before heading to the airport.
Flight reductions began Friday at Newark, JFK, and LaGuardia airports after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered airlines nationwide to scale back flight counts amid the ongoing government shutdown.
The FAA’s emergency directive affects 40 of the busiest airports in the country. Airlines are required to cut 4% of daily flights starting Friday, increasing to 6% by Tuesday, 8% by Thursday and 10% by next Friday. Carriers that exceed the limits will be fined $75,000 per flight.
The move is intended to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay since the shutdown began on October 1. Staffing shortages have already led to delays and sporadic walkouts at major ATC centers.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the cuts are necessary, citing delays at Newark earlier this year which were alleviated by reducing flight capacity. However, many travellers are angry, as cancelled flights throw a wrench into travel plans.
At Newark Liberty International Airport, 12 flights were canceled Friday—six arrivals and six departures—most bound for or arriving from Boston, Atlanta, Orlando, Miami and Fort Lauderdale. As of mid-morning, more than 40 flights had been canceled and nearly 50 delayed, according to FlightAware.
The effects extend beyond commercial travelers. The Rutgers women’s swimming team was unable to reach a scheduled meet in North Carolina after repeated delays at Newark on Thursday, according to ABC7. The team remained stranded overnight and had to cancel their trip.
At JFK and LaGuardia, airlines are taking similar steps to comply with the FAA order. Delta, American and United airlines said they will accommodate most affected passengers on other flights.
United will cancel fewer than 200 flights per day through the weekend; Delta expects to cut about 170; and American plans roughly 220 cancellations.
Nationwide, thousands of flights are expected to be grounded daily as the reductions expand to the full 10% next week.
The FAA and Department of Transportation called the move unprecedented, but necessary to avoid further strain on the air system. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said controllers are working extended shifts, referring to the move as a temporary measure aimed at ensuring safety.
Weather is adding to the disruption. Strong winds in New Jersey and an early-season cold front have delayed flights and reduced visibility across the Northeast. Travelers now need to use every tool at their disposal to ensure they stay ahead of cancellations.
“One of the main causes of delays is your inbound plane,” says Ryan Jones, CEO of flight-tracking app Flighty. “If it gets delayed along its route before it reaches your airport, it will likely delay your flight as well. With Flighty, we track your inbound plane 24 hours in advance, and send delay and cancellation alerts often one to two hours before your airline. So travelers can reclaim some control during this time, get the info they crave, beat the rush, and rebook first.”
Even if Congress ends the shutdown soon, officials say full operations will not resume immediately.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.