The skies over Phoenix Sky Harbor have become decidedly quieter as flight reductions, prompted by the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) recent order, snarl travel plans for many. Fox 10 Phoenix reports that approximately 44 flights have been canceled since November 6, with nearly 70 experiencing delays. The airport, which has seen the highest impact on Southwest and American Airlines, has been a staging ground for travelers who have become all too familiar with a litany of postponements and cancellations.
In a move destined to disrupt plans further, the FAA has initiated a gradual 10% reduction in flights at 40 airports, including Phoenix. Southwest Airlines took the lead with 58 delays on Saturday alone, says Fox 10 Phoenix. Meanwhile, SkyWest customers have been hit hard with cancellations, tallying 16 scrapped flights. Passengers at Sky Harbor have been advised to consistently touch base with their airlines, amidst this turmoil, to avoid being left in the lurch.
Amid the chaos, an AP report detailed by AZ Family noted that more than 810 flights have been scrapped nationwide. The ripple effects of the FAA's scaling back are expected to influence a wide range of domestic airports, including major hubs and smaller, regional airstrips. Delta Air Lines and American Airlines have started to preemptively cancel numerous flights, with the former company eliminating about 170 flights on Friday in response to the shutdown.
As these reductions ramp up to affect 10% by November 14, the stress on air traffic controllers, who've worked unpaid for a stretch, reaches a breaking point. "You can’t expect people to go in to work when they’re not getting a paycheck," Kelly Matthews, a frequent business traveler from Flat Rock, Michigan, said in a statement obtained by AZ Family. The FAA has acknowledged that these measures are to alleviate the strain on these essential personnel.
Travelers have been grappling with the uncertainty of their journeys, some missing critical events like funerals. Giovanni, a stranded passenger at Sky Harbor, lamented to Fox 10 Phoenix, "I've already missed the funeral." As the holiday season approaches, many are left to ponder the feasibility of their travel plans in the face of government standstill. Echoing the sentiments of travelers facing disrupted itineraries, one Sky Harbor traveler expressed hope that a resolution might be reached before the holiday rush exacerbates the current travel woes.
