Will the shutdown delay or cancel my California flight? What to expect
As the government shutdown continues, federal officials announced plans to reduce air traffic by 10% at 40 high-traffic airports across the country — including five in California.
This reduction could lead to longer delays and more flight cancellations for travelers flying to and from the Golden State, according to a Thursday, Nov. 6, news release from the Federal Aviation Administration.
“My department has many responsibilities, but our No. 1 job is safety,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said in the release. “This isn’t about politics – it’s about assessing the data and alleviating building risk in the system as controllers continue to work without pay.”
Since the start of the federal shutdown, the agency said, air traffic controllers have been working without pay, and many airports across the country are short-staffed.
“This has resulted in increased reports of strain on the system from both pilots and air traffic controllers,” the FAA said in the release.
Airports nationwide saw a total of 2,740 flight delays over the weekend of Saturday, Nov. 1, the FAA reported.
If you’re planning a flight to or from California, here’s what to know before you fly:
When will California airports see fewer flights?
If the shutdown continues, operations at high-traffic airports across the nation will be reduced by 4% starting Friday, Nov. 7, according to the news release.
Flight reductions will increase to 6% by Tuesday, Nov. 11, and 8% by Thursday, Nov. 13, the FAA said, reaching 10% by Friday, Nov. 14.
“It’s safe to fly today, and it will continue to be safe to fly next week because of the proactive actions we are taking,” Duffy said.
The FAA is also implementing additional safety measures.
Some visual flight approaches will be restricted at busy facilities with low staffing, according to the agency.
Commercial space launches and landings will only be allowed between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., and parachute jumps and aerial photography near these facilities will be limited.
“These actions were directly informed by the FAA’s review of aviation safety data, including voluntary, confidential safety reports that pilots and air traffic controllers file,” the federal agency said. “The data indicates increased stress on the system, which increases risk.”
Which California airports are being affected by government shutdown?
The FAA said 40 high-traffic airports will be affected, including five in California.
The affected airports are:
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco
- Oakland International Airport (OAK) in Oakland
- Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles
- Ontario International Airport (ONT) in Ontario
- San Diego International Airport (SAN) in San Diego
How do changes affect Sacramento, Fresno travelers?
Sacramento International Airport said it is not experiencing any air traffic controller shortages.
While the Sacramento airport isn’t among the 40 airports targeted for the FAA’s flight reduction plans, more than 50 flights were delayed recently due to a system outage that assists aircraft during low-visibility landings, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
The airport said passengers should check with their airlines before arriving.
Fresno Yosemite International Airport is also not on the list of affected airports, The Fresno Bee reported.
Still, the Fresno airport warned that “these proposed reductions across the National Airspace System are expected to have a ripple effect on other airports,” the airport said in a media statement.
Temporary ground stops and traffic flow issues at major hubs, including Denver, Los Angeles and Dallas-Fort Worth, have already caused occasional delays at Fresno.
With the FAA reductions, flight delays are expected to become more likely, the Fresno airport said.
What about San Luis Obispo airport?
Although San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport is not among the affected airports, flight reductions could affect travelers there, The Tribune previously reported.
“We do anticipate potential ripple effects throughout the nationwide system, which could indirectly impact flight schedules here,” San Luis Obispo airport spokesperson Joe Goble told The Tribune.
Goble said the airport has not received any specific schedule updates but is monitoring the situation closely.
Travelers should check with their airlines for the latest flight information before heading to the airport, Goble said.
How can I check if my California flight has been delayed or cancelled?
According to AAA, the Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection checkpoints remain operational amid the government shutdown.
However, travelers might experience longer wait times, the automobile association said in a Nov. 4 news release.
To “minimize potential disruptions when flying,” AAA said, travelers should take a few extra precautions.
“Pack patience, keeping in mind that TSA officers and other airport staff are doing their best to continue safe and efficient operations,” AAA said.
Travelers should arrive at the airport 30 to 60 minutes earlier than usual to allow for longer lines and slower processing at security checkpoints.
Check your flight status with the FAA before leaving home to see if your flight has been delayed or cancelled, the automobile association said, and stay updated through your airline’s app or alerts.
Are American, Delta and Southwest Airlines affected?
Some airlines have said the government shutdown will have little to no impact on most flights, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
“The vast majority of our customers’ flights will not be disrupted,” Southwest Airlines said on its website, adding that it will contact any affected passengers directly.
Delta Airlines also expects the air traffic cutback to have minimal impact.
“We are providing additional flexibility to our customers traveling to, from or through the impacted markets during the impacted travel period to change, cancel or refund their flight,” Delta said on its website.
American Airlines said the same, noting that most passengers should not be affected and encouraging travelers to check flight status on aa.com or the mobile app for real-time updates.
“Disrupting customers’ plans is the last thing we want to do,” the airline said.
Will my money be refunded for a cancelled flight?
“We are seeing signs of stress in the system, so we are proactively reducing the number of flights to make sure the American people continue to fly safely,” Federal Aviation Administrator Bryan Bedford said in the Thursday release.
Airlines will be required to issue full refunds for canceled flights, but they are not responsible for covering secondary costs, according to the federal agency.
Carriers can use their own discretion to decide which flights to cancel in order to meet the reduction target, the FAA said.
Any adjustments to increase or decrease these flight reductions will be guided by safety data.
“The FAA will continue to closely monitor operations, and we will not hesitate to take further action to make sure air travel remains safe,” Bedford said.
