FRESNO, Calif. – Officials at the Fresno Yosemite International Airport say they are expecting growing flight delays after the federal Department of Transportation announced it was reducing flights at some of the nation’s biggest airports. That’s because the government shutdown has kept air traffic controllers working without pay and under pressure.
Fresno airport officials said flight reductions in Denver, Los Angeles and Dallas have already led to “sporadic” delays, and new flight reductions will only cause those delays to grow.
“FAT encourages passengers to be patient and vigilant in monitoring their flight status by checking with their airline or downloading their airline mobile app for timely updates,” Vikkie Calderon, the Fresno airport spokeswoman, said in a statement.
Flight cancellations are accelerating as U.S. airlines comply with a government order to cut flights because of the shutdown, which is already the longest in U.S. history.
Airports in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are among 40 of the busiest airports across the U.S. where flights are being cut. That is according to a list distributed to the airlines and obtained by The Associated Press.
The Federal Aviation Administration, which operates within the Department of Transportation, says it will begin reducing air traffic on Friday to maintain safety. Airlines will phase in the cuts at the direction of the FAA, eliminating 4% of flights at the 40 airports on Friday and working up to 10%, according to three people familiar with the plans who were not authorized to discuss them publicly.
Below are the airports facing flight cuts:
1. Anchorage International in Alaska
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International in Georgia
3. Boston Logan International in Massachusetts
4. Baltimore/Washington International in Maryland
5. Charlotte Douglas International in North Carolina
6. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International in Kentucky
7. Dallas Love Field in Texas
8. Ronald Reagan Washington National in Virginia
9. Denver International in Colorado
10. Dallas/Fort Worth International in Texas
11. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County in Michigan
12. Newark Liberty International in New Jersey
13. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International in Florida
14. Honolulu International in Hawaii
15. Houston Hobby in Texas
16. Washington Dulles International in Virginia
17. George Bush Houston Intercontinental in Texas
18. Indianapolis International in Indiana
19. John F. Kennedy International in New York
20. Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas
21. Los Angeles International in California
22. LaGuardia Airport in New York
23. Orlando International in Florida
24. Chicago Midway International in Illinois
25. Memphis International in Tennessee
26. Miami International in Florida
27. Minneapolis/St Paul International in Minnesota
28. Oakland International in California
29. Ontario International in California
30. Chicago O`Hare International in Illinois
31. Portland International in Oregon
32. Philadelphia International in Pennsylvania
33. Phoenix Sky Harbor International in Arizona
34. San Diego International in California
35. Louisville International in Kentucky
36. Seattle/Tacoma International in Washington
37. San Francisco International in California
38. Salt Lake City International in Utah
39. Teterboro in New Jersey
40. Tampa International in Florida
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
