House Votes Today to End Shutdown as Air Travel Disruptions Mount

UPDATE: The House of Representatives is set to vote this afternoon, September 27, 2023, on a critical funding bill aimed at ending the government shutdown, which is already causing significant disruptions in air travel across the United States. Thousands of travelers are experiencing chaos as airports report rising flight cancellations.

As of early Wednesday, LaGuardia Airport has seen a staggering 4% of flights canceled, with Newark Airport also reporting 4% cancellations, and John F. Kennedy Airport registering 2%. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that commercial aviation has been strained, with only four staffing triggers noted on Tuesday, a drastic drop from 81 on Saturday.

If the shutdown continues, severe disruptions are anticipated next weekend. Duffy stated, “I think we would see that significant disruption coming this next weekend, maybe as early as Friday,” adding that airlines might be forced to cease operations entirely.

“We might find airlines that have to make decisions, do they keep flying? If this doesn’t open, you might have airlines that say, ‘We’re going to ground our planes. We’re not going to fly anymore.’ That’s how serious this is,” Duffy emphasized.

Federal workers continue to face financial strain, with many going without pay, and nearly 42 million Americans relying on SNAP benefits left in uncertainty. The effects of the shutdown are being felt deeply as delays and cancellations stack up for airline passengers.

The FAA has implemented a 6% flight reduction, which is poised to increase to 10% by Friday if a resolution is not reached. Even after the government is reopened, officials caution that it may take several days for air traffic operations to normalize.

Duffy reassured that once the government reopens, air traffic controllers will receive their payments within 24 to 48 hours and will be made whole within a week. However, he also mentioned that the Department of Transportation is investigating controllers who failed to report to work during the shutdown.

This situation is developing rapidly, and travelers should stay informed as the House prepares to vote and the potential for further disruptions looms.

Next steps: Watch for updates on the House vote and the implications for air travel and federal workers. The urgency of the situation cannot be overstated—time is running out for both passengers and airline operations.