FAA flight cuts expand Tuesday, canceling more flights at Atlanta airport

FAA flight cuts expand Tuesday at Atlanta's airport

Tuesday marks an increase in flight reductions at 40 of the U.S.’s busiest airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

ATLANTA - Tuesday marks an increase in flight reductions at 40 of the U.S.’s busiest airports, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.

Flights delays persist despite Senate action

What we know:

Despite the Senate passing a bill to reopen the government, the House must pass it as well, and President Donald Trump must sign it into law. That could take several days. In the meantime, the FAA’s flight reduction plan continues, with it scheduled to hit 10% on Friday unless the government is reopened by then.

As of 9 p.m. on Tuesday, 121 flights had been canceled at the world’s busiest airport, and 226 flights had been delayed, according to flight tracking website FlightAware.com. Most of the flights were Delta Connection and Delta flights. About 30 canceled flights were operated by Delta Air Lines, while 42 were operated by Endeavor Air as Delta Connection.

Several international carriers, like British Airways, Air France, and Turkish Airlines, all reported one delay but no cancellations so far.

Increase in flight reductions at Atlanta airport

An end is in sight for the government shutdown, but flight reductions increased while waiting on the House and President to approve the measure. Effects are already being felt at the world's busiest airport.

Some trawlers stuck at Atlanta's airport

What they're saying:

Some travelers are saying if you don’t have to fly, don’t, as the government shutdown continues to cause chaos at airports. 

"This has been going on since Friday. I've been trying to get home," said Brittany Neal. "It is currently Tuesday."

For four days, Neal says she has been stuck in Atlanta after her flight home to Chicago was impacted by a combination of air traffic control staffing issues and weather. She says she’s simply exhausted. 

"I figured, like after the first canceled or delayed flight, I figured the next day it'll be cool, I’ll get home, but no, it's been three days after," she said.

Airlines say since the shutdown began, more than five million passengers have been impacted by staffing-related delays and cancellations. 

Zina Sanders and her family were stuck overnight in New York, trying to get to Atlanta.

"This is just unbelievable, and this just is affecting everyone," she said.

Sanders says her experience was frustrating, especially with kids.

"All I can say is that everybody just stay strong and stick together because even in the airport, everyone was helping each other with charges or helping each other get food and things like that." 

Travelers like Mark Mounier have experienced the frustration firsthand. "My flight was originally delayed for what was going to 30 minutes. And then it was 30 minutes again and again and again," he said. Mounier said he spent nearly six hours waiting for his flight from Atlanta to Houston before it was ultimately canceled. "They said that there’s another issue, we can’t get enough staff," he said. "Six hours in total roughly just for it to be cancelled anyway."

For Janeka Hall, the delays cost her more than time. "We were stuck on the plane for three-and-a-half hours," Hall said. She and her sister missed their cruise out of Miami after their flight was delayed. "It was very frustrating because I missed my birthday cruise," she said. "I took about a $600 loss—almost a $700 loss."

FAA airport slowdown

Dig deeper:

Over the weekend, more than 45,000 flights were delayed across the country and more than 5,000 canceled.

A severe thunderstorm warning on Saturday caused a ground stop at Hartsfield-Jackson, leading to 370 cancellations. On Sunday, Atlanta saw 456 cancellations. Both days, Delta was the airline with the most cancellations, but that’s because Atlanta is its headquarters and largest hub.

SEE ALSO:

• Thousands of flights canceled over weekend as shutdown drags into day 40
• Flight cancellations and delays intensify as shutdown continues
• FAA cuts flights amid shutdown strain: How it will impact Atlanta’s airport
• Ground stop at Atlanta airport adds to delays, cancellations Saturday
• Atlanta sees ripple delays amid worsening air traffic controller shortages
• Atlanta airport seeing delays, cancellations on Monday amid shutdown
• ‘Hopelessness’ among air traffic controllers as government shutdown drags on
• How the government shutdown will affect international flights
• Government shutdown latest: Senators working through the weekend; 1,000 flights cancele

Big picture view:

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport sees about 2,500 flights and averages about 286,000 passengers a day.

What's next:

Even if the shutdown ends soon, officials warn the travel disruptions could linger. Air-traffic controller staffing would need time to return to safe levels, and airlines would have to reposition aircraft that are scattered across the country. Until then, passengers can expect longer waits and more cancellations before normal travel resumes.