Impact of U.S. Flight Reductions on Canadian Travellers
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 high-volume airports starting Friday. This has led to more than 800 cancellations of U.S.-linked flights as of Friday morning, according to FlightAware.
Effect on Cross-Canada Flights
Many cross-Canada flights pass through U.S. airspace, so Canadian travellers are likely to experience delays or cancellations even if they are not flying directly to American cities.
Background on the U.S. Government Shutdown
The U.S. government has been shut down since October 1, marking the longest such event in the nation's history. As a result, air traffic controllers in the U.S. have been working without pay for almost six weeks, causing staffing shortages and flight delays.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford explained the decision to reduce air traffic, stating that he and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy did not want the situation to escalate into a crisis. He cited staffing pressures and pilot reports of growing fatigue among controllers.
Additional Information
Travellers are advised to monitor flight updates closely as the situation evolves, especially those with itineraries involving U.S. airports.
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Summary: The FAA's 10% air traffic cut amid a prolonged U.S. government shutdown is causing significant cancellations and delays impacting Canadian flights that traverse U.S. airspace.