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Amidst the unprecedented government shutdown, several airlines have stepped up to offer refunds and free flight changes for travelers affected by newly imposed restrictions. This move aims to assist passengers whose travel plans have been disrupted.
On Wednesday, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Bryan Bedford, announced that starting Friday morning, the agency will reduce flight capacity by 10 percent at 40 major airports across the United States. This decision has been prompted by staffing shortages among air traffic controllers, which are currently affecting facilities nationwide.
Following the FAA’s new directive, United Airlines has decided to cut its daily flights by 4 percent through the weekend. A company spokesperson conveyed to NewsNation, an affiliate of The Hill, that the airline is actively working to minimize inconvenience for both customers and crew.
United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby addressed customers via a letter on the company’s website, assuring them of “several days’ advance notice” for any flight changes. He clarified that the airline’s long-haul international routes and hub-to-hub flights would remain unaffected, with the focus of reductions being on “regional and domestic mainline flights that do not connect hubs.”
Moreover, Kirby emphasized that any passengers who prefer not to travel during these restrictions, even if their flights remain unchanged, will qualify for a refund.
American Airlines, meanwhile, said in a press release Thursday that it expects that the “vast majority of our customers’ travel will be unaffected, and long-haul international travel will remain as scheduled.” American also said it will refund customers whose flights are cancelled “for any reason” and that customers can change their flight or request a refund without penalty.
Delta Air Lines also expressed confidence that most of its customers’ travel plans, including long-haul international flights, will not be impacted by the restrictions. In a release, Delta said that all customers traveling to, from or through the impacted markets while the capacity limits are in place may change, cancel or refund their flights without penalty.
Bedford, during a press conference alongside Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, cited the need to “take the pressure off of” air traffic controllers, who are set to miss their second consecutive paycheck on Tuesday amid the record-long government shutdown.
So far Thursday, over 3,300 flights within, into or out of the U.S. have been delayed, with at least 68 such flights cancelled, according to the flight-tracking site FlightAware. It is unclear what percentage of those flights were disrupted due to controller staffing shortages.
The FAA is expected to announce the airports impacted by the restrictions later Thursday, while a preliminary list was obtained by NewsNation.