Impact of U.S. Flight Cancellations on Canadian Travellers
Even if your destination is not in the U.S., cross-Canada flights often enter American airspace. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a 10% reduction in air traffic at 40 “high-volume” airports starting Friday.
Flight Disruptions
By Friday morning, over 800 flights linked to the U.S. were cancelled, according to FlightAware. This disruption primarily affects Canadian travellers whose routes intersect with U.S. airports.
Root Cause: U.S. Government Shutdown
The ongoing U.S. government shutdown, beginning October 1, has become the longest in the nation's history. Air traffic controllers have been working without pay for nearly six weeks, causing staff shortages and significant delays.
FAA and Safety Concerns
"FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford, noting staffing challenges and pilot reports of controller fatigue, stated that he and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy chose to act before the situation reached a crisis."
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Author’s summary: The persistent U.S. government shutdown has forced the FAA to cut flights, causing over 800 cancellations that impact Canadian travellers flying through American airspace.