What to know if your travel plans are impacted by the FAA's flight cancellations

"If you have upcoming travel plans anytime soon, you might notice fewer options on the airport's departure board. Airlines are scaling back flights at dozens of major U.S. airports to ease the pressure on air traffic controllers, who have been working unpaid and under intense strain during the ongoing government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration says the decision is necessary to keep travelers safe."

"Many controllers have been putting in long hours and mandatory overtime while lawmakers are at a standstill over how to reopen the government. Major hubs like New York, Los Angeles and Chicago are among those affected, and the ripple effects could mean more cancellations, longer delays and fuller flights for travelers across the country. The cutbacks will impact hundreds if not thousands of flights daily."

"There's a good chance it is. The list spans more than two dozen states. It includes the country's busiest airport Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia and the main airports in Boston, Denver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. Multiple airports will be impacted in some metropolitan hubs, including New York, Houston, Chicago and Washington. How long will this go on?"

"It's hard to say. Even if the shutdown ends soon, the FAA has said it would not lift the flight restrictions until staffing at airport towers and regional air traffic centers makes it safe to do so. It's going to take time to work through this, said Michael Johnson, president of Ensemble Travel, an association of travel agencies in the U.S. and Canada."

Airlines are reducing flights at dozens of major U.S. airports to ease pressure on air traffic controllers who have been working unpaid and under intense strain during the government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration ordered cutbacks to keep travelers safe, affecting major hubs including Atlanta, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Denver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, Miami, San Francisco and Salt Lake City. The restrictions could cause cancellations, longer delays and fuller flights, cutting hundreds or thousands of daily flights. The FAA will not lift limits until tower and regional center staffing reaches safe levels. Travelers should plan ahead and monitor airline notifications.

Read at www.mercurynews.com