Flight delays, cancellations could continue for days despite progress on reopening government

Air traffic could remain snarled for days, though relief could be in sight for travelers facing canceled or delayed flights, as a deal to reopen the federal government moves through Congress.

The Federal Aviation Administration canceled thousands of flights over the weekend because of the shutdown and because some air traffic controllers, unpaid for nearly a month, have stopped going to work. The FAA says it ordered the reductions to ensure aviation safety.

The 40 airports directly impacted include Kennedy, LaGuardia and Newark.

The deal being considered with support from eight Democratic senators, joined by most Republicans, could bring them back, but final passage could still be several days away, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has said that flight cuts will remain in place until the FAA sees safety metrics improve.

What should I do if I’m scheduled to fly?

The FAA recommends visiting nasstatus.faa.gov and checking with your airline before going to the airport. Airlines are required to issue full refunds for canceled flights but are not required to cover secondary costs like meals or hotels. Major airlines, including American, United and Delta, have said they are trying to give customers as much notice as possible about canceled or delayed flights. In many cases, customers who decide not to travel can cancel or change their flights without penalty. Remember, though, that the picture isn't all bleak. Major airlines said Monday that cancellations numbered in the hundreds, but they had thousands of scheduled flights. Also, the FAA order "does not require a reduction in international flights," according to the agency. Rebecca Alesia, a luxury travel adviser with Wanderology, based in Locust Valley, said in an interview that "most international carriers have had fairly low, if any, impact." 

When will things get back to normal?

The FAA last week announced an escalating series of flight cuts at the 40 airports: 4% last Friday, 6% Tuesday, 8% Thursday, and 10% this Friday. Experts have also warned that flights could sell out fast if the shutdown ends. “I can’t imagine things snapping back like a rubber band,” said Alesia. “It’ll look more like a bell curve. We’re at the top of the pain curve now — it certainly felt that way for many of my domestic travelers this weekend.” By Monday afternoon, she said, “almost everyone I had flying domestically was impacted in some way.”

What if I haven't booked a flight for Thanksgiving?

If you haven’t booked a flight already, do so as soon as possible, preferably on the first flight out of the day, when you are less likely to face delays, Ellie Breslin, a spokeswoman for Hopper, the travel-booking app, wrote in an email. She also recommended signing up for alerts from your airline, checking the status of your flight before leaving for the airport and researching other flight options on the same day as your departure. Hopper also recommends booking options that allow passengers to change or cancel flights. Travel insurance may give you an extra safety net.

How are New York’s airports faring now?

Not great, but not the worst. By 8 p.m. Monday, according to tracking service FlightAware, LaGuardia was second in the nation for canceled departing flights, with 88, with another 337 delayed — over half of the day’s departures. At Newark and Kennedy, just 11% and 5% of flights were canceled, but a third of outgoing flights were delayed at both airports.

Top of the list was Chicago O'Hare International, where wintry weather and the shutdown contributed to the cancellation of 318 outbound and 312 inbound flights.

With AP

By Nicholas Spangler

nicholas.spangler@newsday.comspanglernewsday

Nicholas Spangler is a general assignment reporter and has worked at Newsday since 2010.