Canadian Airlines Warn Travellers of Potential U.S. Flight Disruptions
Travellers from Canada heading to the United States in the coming days may face flight cancellations due to a possible U.S. government shutdown affecting the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
FAA Flight Reductions and Affected Airports
The FAA plans to reduce flights at 40 airports nationwide if the shutdown persists. A source told CNN that the "Core 30" high-traffic airports will be affected, including New York City's three major hubs and airports in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Honolulu, Houston, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Miami, Phoenix, Seattle, and Washington, D.C.
- Other airports potentially impacted include Anchorage (Alaska), Indianapolis, Portland (Oregon), and Ontario (California).
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated flight volumes will be cut by 10 per cent but did not clarify whether this applies to flights at affected airports or nationwide.
Staffing Challenges Amid Shutdown
The government shutdown has resulted in 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers and 13,000 air traffic controllers working without pay, raising concerns over operational capacity.
Responses from Canadian Airlines
Canada's leading airlines—Air Canada, WestJet, Air Transat, and Flair Airlines—have reported no current disruptions to their U.S. flights. All are closely monitoring the situation.
An Air Canada spokesperson told Daily Hive: "We are awaiting more details on the planned reductions."
Canadian travellers should stay updated on flight statuses as the FAA’s decisions evolve.
Author’s summary: Potential U.S. government shutdown may trigger flight cancellations at major airports, but Canadian airlines currently report no impacts while closely watching developments.