Canadians planning to travel to the U.S. in the coming days may face disruptions due to potential flight cancellations amid a U.S. government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) could reduce flights at 40 airports nationwide if the shutdown persists.
An FAA source informed CNN that the "Core 30" high-traffic airports will be impacted, including all three major New York City hubs and key airports in cities such as:
Additional airports in Anchorage, Alaska; Indianapolis; Portland, Oregon; and Ontario, California may also be affected.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy told reporters: “Flight volumes will be reduced by 10 per cent,” though he did not clarify whether this refers to the impacted airports specifically or nationwide.
The shutdown has forced approximately 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers and 13,000 air traffic controllers to work without pay.
Daily Hive contacted major Canadian carriers regarding the impact of possible U.S. flight cancellations. WestJet, Air Transat, and Flair Airlines have not yet experienced disruptions but remain vigilant.
An Air Canada spokesperson said: “We are awaiting more details on the planned reductions.”
Airlines continue to monitor the evolving situation carefully to update travellers as needed.
Author’s Summary: Potential U.S. flight cuts amid the government shutdown threaten Canadian travellers, with key airports affected and airlines closely monitoring developments.