air travel delays news

A government shutdown wouldn't stop air travel, but it could make it worse

The U.S. air travel system is huge and complicated, and it could show significant signs of stress in the event of a federal government shutdown.

As the hours tick by without any indication of progress on a new funding bill, it looks more and more likely that the government will shut down at 12:01 ET on Sunday. Many federal programs and agencies will have to stop funding and their workers will be furloughed.

Federal Aviation Administration employees, such as air traffic controllers, and Transportation Safety Administration employees, like security screeners, would still be expected to report to work but not get paid.

While those people will get back pay sometime after the government gets funded again, they're not likely to be happy about delayed paychecks, and if the shutdown drags on, more of them will probably stay home. That would contribute to flight delays and cancellations.

We’d like to hear from you about how you’re preparing for a possible government shutdown, whether you might be out of work or feel the effects of shuttered services. Please contact us at  [email protected]  or reach out to us  here .

The nonprofit U.S. Travel Association said earlier this month that a shutdown could cause consumers to eliminate $140 million a day in travel spending, would worsen flight delays and increase screening lines.

It could also push back crucial modernization work at U.S. airports that are in poor condition.

The group says that, according to a survey conducted by Ipsos, 60% of Americans said they would cancel or avoid air travel during a shutdown.

Some key essential workers would be affected

At a news conference on Wednesday, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said his department will have to immediately stop training new air traffic controllers if there is a shutdown, and furlough another 1,000 controllers who are "in the training pipeline."

The FAA says there are 45,000 flights in the U.S. on an average day, a number that has grown over the years even as experts say the agency has been operating without enough air traffic controllers. Buttigieg said the government hired 1,500 controllers this year and plans to hire 1,800 in 2024, but said the training and certification process is so long and complex that even a relatively brief shutdown could prevent that from happening.

"We finally have that headed in the right direction," Buttigieg said of the controller staffing and training. "Even a few days or weeks could set us back well into next year."

That, in turn, could make the system itself more brittle.

Buttigieg also emphasized the stresses that transportation personnel would feel if they don't get their pay on time, which would almost certainly be exacerbated by ongoing high inflation .

That combination of fragility and frustration actually helped bring about the end of the last government shutdown, the longest ever, which stretched from December 2018 to January 2019.

As it dragged on, unions representing aviation safety inspectors and air traffic controllers said that their furloughs were making air travel dangerous for the public. Some were then ordered to come back to work.

Meanwhile, frustrated at the lack of pay, increasing numbers of security personnel called out sick and lines at airports got longer. Finally, a group of 10 air traffic controllers did the same, causing widespread delays on the East Coast. That helped force an end to the shutdown.

Marley Jay is a business news reporter for NBC News Digital.

FAA issues warning to travelers amid omicron surge: Delays will continue

The agency is dealing with rising cases among air traffic control employees.

The travel chaos continues for an eighth consecutive day Friday, with more than 1,600 U.S. cancellations as of 8:30 p.m. ET. The airlines have been grappling with the one-two punch of bad winter weather and a surge in crew COVID cases that have left them short-staffed, and forced airlines to cancel nearly 10,000 flights since Christmas Eve.

Now the Federal Aviation Administration is warning of staffing issues of its own, such as sick air traffic controllers. In addition, the FAA warned on Thursday that weather, holiday traffic and COVID-19 "are likely to result in some travel delays in the coming days."

"Like the rest of the U.S. population, an increased number of FAA employees have tested positive for COVID-19," the FAA said in a statement. "To maintain safety, traffic volume at some facilities could be reduced, which might result in delays during busy periods."

MORE: A week of travel woes: More than 8,000 flights canceled since Christmas Eve

The travel turbulence couldn't have come at a worse time as millions of Americans travel during what could be the busiest travel period since the start of the pandemic. Roughly 8.5 million fliers are expected to pass through U.S. airports from now until Jan.3, according to estimates from the Transportation Security Administration.

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has been hit particularly hard this week -- holding the No. 1 spot for the most cancellations in the world for three days in a row. Denver International took its place on Friday morning, topping the list with more than 250 cancellations.

Carriers are trying to proactively cancel flights to give travelers time to rebook.

JetBlue Airways, which has seen sick calls in some departments up 200-300% more than average, canceled more than 1,200 flights over the next few weeks.

"We expect the number of COVID cases in the northeast -- where most of our crewmembers are based -- to continue to surge for the next week or two," the airline said in a statement. "This means there is a high likelihood of additional cancellations until case counts start to come down."

MORE: Winter holiday travel rush likely to approach pre-pandemic levels

Delta Air Lines is already planning to cancel 200 to 300 daily flights for the upcoming weekend, citing "increasing winter weather and the omicron variant."

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Thousands of travelers who have had to call the airlines to change their flights have been met with long wait times.

Alaska Airlines was reporting hold times of up to 20 hours on Thursday.

Delta and JetBlue are quoting hold times of one hour and 35 minutes and two hours and 16 minutes, respectively.

On Monday, airlines got their first sign of possible relief when the CDC shortened the isolation period for asymptomatic and fully vaccinated individuals who contract COVID-19 from 10 days to five.

United said Friday it would pay pilots triple their salary for picking up extra flights, according to a letter acquired by ABC News. United canceled more than 200 flights on Friday. Spirit Airlines, which had canceled 99 flights as of Friday night, announced it would offer double pay to flight attendants through Jan. 4.

MORE: New CDC isolation guidance may ease COVID-related flight cancellations

JetBlue CEO Robin Hayes told CNBC Thursday that the new guidelines are definitely going to help, but that "the size of the problem really is just the number of people contracting it."

"Things are likely to get worse before it gets better," he said.

ABC News' Sam Sweeney contributed to this report.

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United’s Passengers Were Stuck, but Its C.E.O. Flew on a Private Plane

The airline has had to cancel and delay more flights than other carriers after storms and other problems disrupted air travel around the country this week.

By Niraj Chokshi and Christine Chung

United Airlines appeared to restore more normal operations on Friday after a weeklong struggle to recover from flight delays and cancellations ahead of the busy Fourth of July holiday.

The airline’s disruptions began last weekend in the New York area. At the time, United blamed thunderstorms and federal air traffic control staffing shortages and inexperience. Other airlines suffered flight delays and cancellations at the time, too, but by Wednesday United’s problems stood out as they spread to its operations across the country.

Adding to the bad publicity for the airline, the company’s chief executive, Scott Kirby, on Wednesday took a private jet to Denver, where the airline has a hub, from Teterboro Airport, which is close to Newark Liberty International Airport, one of United’s biggest hubs. The airline said it did not pay for the trip and, in a statement on Friday, Mr. Kirby said he regretted taking that flight.

“Taking a private jet was the wrong decision because it was insensitive to our customers who were waiting to get home,” he said. “I sincerely apologize to our customers and our team members who have been working around the clock for several days — often through severe weather — to take care of our customers.”

United's troubles began to improve in recent days. After canceling over a quarter of its flights on Tuesday and Wednesday, United scrubbed about 19 percent of its schedule on Thursday and about 8 percent by late afternoon on Friday, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking firm. Still, the number of flights the airline canceled on those two days eclipsed cancellations by other carriers.

United expressed optimism about its recovery on Friday. In a statement, the airline said that storms could present a challenge along the East Coast and in Denver and Chicago, but that United was “ready” for the busy weekend.

“Our reliability continues to improve, with far fewer cancellations today compared to previous days,” United said.

Pete Buttigieg, the transportation secretary, singled out the airline on Twitter on Thursday, sharing a chart that showed that other carriers had recovered from bad weather earlier in the week while United had not.

On Monday, Mr. Kirby told employees in a memo that the Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees air traffic control and is a part of the Transportation Department, had “failed” United over the weekend. Mr. Kirby similarly blamed air traffic control for delays last summer, later apologizing to Mr. Buttigieg for the way he had characterized that criticism in a letter to employees.

This week has been one of the busiest periods for air travel in years. The Transportation Security Administration reported screening more than 2.7 million people on Thursday, one of its busiest days since 2019. Only four other days have been busier since the pandemic began, all in recent weeks. AAA, the travel club, said it expected nearly 4.2 million people to fly this weekend, up 6.6 percent from 2019.

Throughout the week, United passengers have reported having to sleep in airports and stand in line for hours to rebook flights. Some travelers said they had to wait days to retrieve checked bags.

Elizabeth Rodriguez, traveling with her 12-year-old son, said in an interview on Friday that it had taken days longer than expected to get home to Fairfax, Va., from Texas. On Wednesday morning, just hours before they were scheduled to depart on a United flight from San Antonio International Airport, she was notified by text and through the airline’s mobile app that the flight had been canceled because of crew scheduling issues.

When Ms. Rodriguez called customer service to rebook, she was told there was a two-hour wait. With no other available flights to the Washington area that day, she booked a flight online departing the next day via Houston. After she landed in Houston on Thursday night, her flight to Reagan National Airport was delayed repeatedly into Friday morning.

“United Airlines handled this week poorly, was ill prepared and failed to be transparent with passengers throughout the entire process,” Ms. Rodriguez said. She added that testy gate agents had offered many reasons for the ordeal, including crew scheduling issues, weather and mechanical problems.

The airline handed out hotel vouchers for only some passengers on her flight, said Ms. Rodriguez, who ended up paying for a room herself. Her flight finally departed on Friday morning, 15 hours after its original departure time.

“I am so frustrated with delays, but even more so with how they treated people at the airport,” she said. “I don’t know if I will use United again.”

Her exasperation was similar to what passengers of Southwest Airlines felt over the winter holidays. Southwest canceled more than 10,000 flights in the four days after Christmas, or about 46 percent of its schedule. On United’s worst day this week, Tuesday, it canceled nearly 800 flights, or about 28 percent of its schedule.

The disruptions have left pilots and flight attendants frustrated, too. Many have had to wait on hold for hours to get reassignments after flights were canceled. Some flight attendants slept at airports, too, according to social media posts.

“Weather last weekend affected everyone, but United is the only airline still struggling to recover, and we know why,” Ken Diaz, president of the United chapter of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents more than 25,000 United flight attendants, said in a statement on Thursday. “United management’s failure to properly staff crew schedulers, the flight attendant support team and more has exacerbated these operational issues.”

Mr. Diaz said United had “lost” crews in its system for days because of the breakdown. He also said that the union had warned management last year of problems that could contribute to more disruptions, but that the airline “charged ahead” with an ambitious flight schedule this summer. United used some of the union’s recommendations to get through the current disruption, including making changes to its schedule and agreeing to pay flight attendants three times their normal pay to pick up trips through next Thursday, Mr. Diaz said.

Pilots have expressed similar frustrations.

“It is United Airlines management that is failing our loyal customers by ignoring the warning signs and failing to properly plan,” Capt. Garth Thompson, president of the United chapter of the Air Line Pilots Association union, which represents more than 15,000 of the airline’s pilots, said in a statement.

Niraj Chokshi covers the business of transportation, with a focus on airlines. More about Niraj Chokshi

Christine Chung is a travel reporter for The Times. She previously covered breaking news. She joined The Times in November 2021. More about Christine Chung

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Travelers endure another day of airport agony. One airline has by far the most cancellations

Travelers from Hong Kong wait for travel options after their vacation flight to Cancun, Mexico, was suddenly cancelled disrupting their planned vacation at the United Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International airport, Wednesday June 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

The Vargas family sits at the airport after their flight to Cancun, Mexico, was cancelled at the United Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International airport, on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Travelers wait at the departure area check-in at the United Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International airport, Wednesday June 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Travelers wait in line at the departure area check-in at the United Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, Wednesday June 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Travelers sit on the ground at the departure area at the United Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International Airport, Wednesday June 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Travelers wait in line at the departure area check-in at the United Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International airport, Wednesday June 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Travelers line up at the departure area check-in at the United Airlines terminal at Los Angeles International airport, Wednesday June 28, 2023, in Los Angeles. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Travelers use their electronic devices while lying on the floor of the departures area of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

A airline agents helps a travelers in the departures area of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Jet Blue agents help a traveler, right, in the departures area of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

A monitor displays in the departures area of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport displays flight statuses, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

An airline employee, right, helps a traveler find her suitcase amongst the unclaimed luggage in the arrivals area of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

A traveler looks for his suitcase amongst the unclaimed luggage in the arrivals area of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Travelers line up at the Southwest Airline ticket counter in the departures area of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers.(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

A traveler is seen leaving the baggage claim area in Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Storm clouds loom over airplane on the tarmac at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

An airplane lands, top, as other line up for takeoff, center, and others are parked at the gate of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Travelers use their electronic devices while sitting on the floor of the departures area of Terminal B at LaGuardia Airport, Tuesday, June 27, 2023, in New York. Travelers waited out widespread delays at U.S. airports on Tuesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

A woman views her phone near a flight board at Boston Logan International Airport, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Boston. Travelers are getting hit with delays at U.S. airports again early Wednesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

A man views a flight board at Boston Logan International Airport, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Boston. Travelers are getting hit with delays at U.S. airports again early Wednesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

A traveler walks through a terminal at Boston Logan International Airport, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Boston. Travelers are getting hit with delays at U.S. airports again early Wednesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Travelers check in at an automated counter at Logan International Airport, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Boston. Travelers are getting hit with delays at U.S. airports again early Wednesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Travelers check in at the Spirit Airline ticket counters at Terminal B in Newark International Airport in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Airline passengers face delays following flight cancellations due to storms in the region. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

A screen displaying departure times and delayed flight information for Terminal C in Newark International Airport in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Airline passengers face delays following flight cancellations due to storms in the region. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

A delayed traveler sleeps on the floor near the United Airlines ticket desk at Terminal C in Newark International Airport in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Airline passengers face delays following flight cancellations due to storms in the region. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Delayed travelers wait in line to check in at the United Airlines ticket desk at Terminal C in Newark International Airport in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Airline passengers face delays following flight cancellations due to storms in the region. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Delayed travelers wait to check in at the United Airlines ticket desk at Terminal C in Newark International Airport in Newark, N.J., Wednesday, June 28, 2023. Travelers are getting hit with delays at U.S. airports again Wednesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend, which is shaping up as the biggest test yet for airlines that are struggling to keep up with surging numbers of passengers. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)

Passenger jets, top and center, taxi on the tarmac past another jet, below, at Boston Logan International Airport, Wednesday, June 28, 2023, in Boston. Travelers are getting hit with delays at U.S. airports again early Wednesday, an ominous sign heading into the long July 4 holiday weekend. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

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DALLAS (AP) — Air travelers endured another wave of flight disruptions Thursday despite better weather along much of the East Coast, while United Airlines continued to account for the majority of canceled flights nationwide.

United vowed to get back on track over the July 4 holiday weekend, when the number of air travelers could set a pandemic-era record.

Hundreds of thousands of people have had travel plans thrown in the air after a wave of storms raked the Northeast over the past few days and frustrations are running high.

Airports in Chicago, Denver and Newark, New Jersey — all hubs for United — were seeing the most delays on Thursday, according to FlightAware.

By early evening on the East Coast, United had canceled more than 400 flights, the bulk of the 600-plus cancellations toted up by FlightAware. The Chicago carrier was poised to lead all U.S. airlines in cancellations for a sixth straight day.

United CEO Scott Kirby has blamed the airline’s struggles in Newark on a shortage of air traffic controllers in the New York City area. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg pushed back against the criticism while conceding that a key Federal Aviation Administration facility in New York is severely understaffed.

“United Airlines has some internal issues they need to work through. They have really been struggling this week, even relative to other U.S. airlines,” Buttigieg told CNN. “But where we do agree is that there need to be more resources for air traffic control.”

The FAA plans to hire 3,300 controllers over two years, but they won’t be ready to help this summer, much less this weekend.

The leader of United’s union pilots — who are locked in difficult contract negotiations — blamed management for the disruptions, saying the company failed to upgrade a crew-scheduling system.

“While Scott Kirby attempts to deflect blame on the FAA, weather and everything in between, further flight delays are a direct result of poor planning by United Airlines executives,” Garth Thompson said.

United is offering triple pay to flight attendants who are scheduled off this weekend but agree to pick up extra flights, according to their union. The Association of Flight Attendants also said crews calling in for assignments have been put on hold for three hours or longer.

“The airline actually ‘lost’ crews in the system for days on end because there was such a significant breakdown in running the operation,” said Ken Diaz, president of the flight attendants’ group at United. He said the company scheduled summer flights “to the max” even knowing about air traffic control limits in the Northeast.

United said it was getting a handle on its problems.

“We’re seeing continued meaningful improvement today after an overnight effort to further repair schedules and match separated crews with aircraft,” the airline said in a midday statement. “As the recovery progresses, delays and cancellations will continue to decline as we head into what we expect to be a very busy holiday weekend.”

Because planes are packed for the summer, it is hard for airlines to rebook customers when flights are canceled – there aren’t many empty seats.

Ariana Duran of Orlando, Florida, said JetBlue rebooked her for seven days later when her flight home from Newark was canceled this week. So she got creative.

Her boyfriend spotted a $1,200 seat on another airline, but it was gone before they could buy it. She looked into Amtrak. Duran, who does marketing for an insurance company, wound up paying about $640 for a one-way ticket to Orlando — with a stop in the Florida Keys — on United Express and Silver Airways.

Duran didn’t care when they told her it would be a very small plane.

“Just put me on a boat at this point,” she said.

Sonia Hendrix, who runs a public-relations firm in New York, took four days to get home from a business trip to Colorado. She was stranded one night in Atlanta and two in Orlando, when connecting flights were canceled. She woke up some mornings not knowing where she was.

Hendrix said a Delta agent threatened to cancel her reservation when she complained about being offered only a $50 voucher for her trip troubles. On the other hand, her pilot, “Captain Dan,” waited in the airport and helped passengers after the flight was canceled.

“This is not all Delta’s fault. Their pilots and flight crews were working very hard,” she said. “I blame the FAA. I blame Buttigieg for sitting on his hands” and not staffing up air traffic control centers sooner.

Hendrix said she lost working time and spent $700 out of pocket. She is so worried it could happen again that she is reconsidering a business trip next month to Los Angeles.

The FAA said Thursday would be the busiest day of the holiday stretch by number of flights. The Transportation Security Administration said it expected to screen the most travelers on Friday — a predicted 2.82 million people.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms may arrive later Thursday in the Northeast, and storms were also forecast farther south along the East Coast through Saturday. The West is under threat of unstable weather for the next several days.

Along with big crowds and storms, a technology issue could add to travelers’ difficulties. Federal officials say some airline planes may be unable to fly in bad weather starting Saturday because of possible interference from new 5G wireless service.

American, United, Southwest, Alaska and Frontier say all their planes have been retrofitted with new radio altimeters — those are devices that measure the plane’s height above the ground — and they do not expect disruptions due to 5G service.

However, Delta Air Lines has about 190 planes in its fleet of more than 900 that have not been updated because it can’t get enough altimeters from its supplier. Delta says it will schedule those planes to avoid landing in poor visibility while it works to upgrade them through the summer.

The issue affects several types of single-aisle planes that Delta uses on routes within the United States, including all its Airbus A220s and most of its Airbus A319 and A320 jets.

Smaller airlines that operate regional flights could also be affected by the radio interference issue, as could flights operated to the United States by foreign carriers.

By early evening in the East, about 5,300 flights had been delayed, down from an average of 8,000 a day over the first three days of the week.

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Airlines resume normal service after a morning of delays and cancelations caused by computer outage

A computer glitch at the Federal Aviation Administration delayed airline traffic across much of the nation early Wednesday, and the agency said it was investigating what caused the issue as flights resumed.

The FAA instituted a nationwide pause on departures, known as a ground stop, for part of the morning Wednesday but that order had been lifted by 8 am. C.T.

In Milwaukee at Mitchell International, the airport tweeted this at 5:44 Wednesday morning: "Check your flight status if you're traveling today. A system outage at the FAA is preventing aircraft from departing at airports nationwide. Please keep in touch with your airline if you're scheduled to fly this morning. We will provide updates here when the system is restored."

The FAA then ordered all airlines to "pause all domestic departures" until 8 a.m. Wednesday. A few dozen flights into and out of Mitchell were delayed or canceled.

Flights began to take off again at Mitchell by 8:40 a.m., but the problems caused by the early delays and cancelations rippled into the afternoon.

One traveler, Cassie Karius, was supposed to fly to New York at 9:20 a.m. but on the way to the airport received a notification from JetBlue informing her that her flight had been delayed by over two hours.

"I feel like I got pretty lucky because I was going to have a layover anyway but now I won't have to wait as long during that layover but I feel bad for people who might miss a layover or who are in a hurry," said Karius.

According to FlightAware , a plane tracking website, 37 flights going into and out of Mitchell Airport had been delayed Wednesday morning.

Just after 12:30 p.m. ET, more than 7,300 flights within, into, or out of the U.S. were delayed according to  FlightAware , and more than 1,000 flights in the country were canceled.

United Airlines  issued a waiver  for travelers at certain airports, allowing passengers whose flights were affected to alter their plans without paying a change fee or fare difference.

Southwest Airlines also announced a more flexible  change policy  for affected passengers.

Airlines for America, the trade group that represents major U.S. airlines, urged travelers to check with their carrier throughout the day.

"For real time updates related to any potential delays or cancellations caused by the FAA’s system disruptions, travelers should download their airline's app, visit the carrier’s website and ensure their contact information is accurate on travel records," the group said.

The FAA said it was working to fully restore the affected  Notice to Air Mission (NOTAM)  system, which provides pilots with safety information for the nation's airports.

NOTAMs used to be available through a hotline but that was phased out with the internet. The alerts span from mundane information about construction at airports to urgent flight restrictions or broken equipment.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre tweeted: "The President has been briefed by the Secretary of Transportation this morning on the FAA system outage. There is no evidence of a cyberattack at this point, but the President directed DOT to conduct a full investigation into the causes."

It's the first time departures have been halted nationwide since 9/11.

"This is rare... The fact that they had to initiate a ground stop across the United States, that hasn't happened since September 11th, 2001. So you get an idea of the magnitude of this," Mike McCormick, assistant professor in applied aviation sciences at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, told reporters.

Elsewhere in Wisconsin, Austin Straubel International airport in Green Bay saw three cancellations and three delays Wednesday morning.

"Because of the national scope of the situation, we do not expect things will be quickly resolved. While this is a major disruption for travelers, the safety of travelers and our nation’s air system is a top priority," the Airport said in a press release this morning.

Zach Wichter of USA Today contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Flight delays, cancellations seen at Mitchell Airport after FAA outage

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Protect Your Trip »

What to do if your flight is canceled.

Follow these steps in the event your flight is canceled.

Flight Canceled or Delayed? What to Do

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Key Takeaways

• If your flight has been canceled, you are entitled to a full cash refund per federal law.
• Using the airline's app or calling an international airline number is often the quickest way to get help.
• The DOT Cancellation and Delay Dashboard shows what each major domestic airline will or will not provide in the event of a cancellation or delay.

If your flight has been canceled, read on for step-by-step instructions on how to rearrange your travel plans and/or claim compensation.

What to do if your flight is canceled

1. get on the airline's app – or make an international call.

First, pull up the airline's app on your phone. Most airline apps allow you to easily rebook your flight for free, provided you can supply your six-character reservation code. Getting in line to speak with an agent and calling the airline while you wait is also a good idea (albeit slower than using an app), and social media messaging, texting or WhatsApp may prove helpful. "During times of mass travel disruption, you should try all different avenues for getting help," says Nick Ewen, director of content at The Points Guy.

Ewen also recommends a lesser-known tactic: calling the airline's international numbers. Airlines have offices in Canada, Mexico, the U.K. and more. "While it can be costly, you can often get through to an agent more quickly," Ewen says.

Note that, depending on why your flight was canceled, finding seats on a new flight may alter your travel plans considerably.

2. Book a hotel

Next, determine if you need overnight accommodations. "If you were originally booked on the last flight of the night and there are no other options, grab a hotel room near the airport before they're all taken," Ewen advises.

3. Ask for a refund

If the airline cancels your flight or it's "significantly delayed" (a term currently defined on a case-by-case basis) and you're forced to change your travel plans, the Department of Transportation requires airlines to provide a full refund. Unfortunately, getting a refund can be a lengthy and frustrating process. Most airlines will instead offer a credit for future travel, but be wary of these, since they often come with limitations such as blackout and expiration dates.

When you're able to get a refund, note that it covers the total cost of airfare only and does not include other expenses associated with your trip.

If you believe you're entitled to a refund and the airline denies it to you, you can and should file a complaint with the DOT .

4. Reference the DOT Cancellation and Delay Dashboard

While you're entitled to a full refund, other flight cancellation policies may vary by airline. Go to the DOT's Cancellation and Delay Dashboard to see what each major airline will and will not offer in the event of a controllable cancellation.

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What to do if your flight is delayed

In the event your flight is delayed, airlines are not legally obligated to give you a refund unless the DOT determines the delay to be "significant." But here's what you can do:

Research other flights

Investigate what other flights on that airline are headed to your destination and ask an agent if they can get you on one of them (without charging change fees). Also be sure to look into what's available on other airlines: If your original airline doesn't have any flights available on your departure date, an agent may be able to book you on a flight with a different carrier at no additional cost to you. Note, however, that airlines are not legally required to do this.

Inquire about other compensation

If you've been stranded at the airport for several hours, check in with an agent and reference the Commitments for Controllable Delays section on the DOT's Cancellation and Delay Dashboard – regardless of whether you're able to get on another flight. Some airlines may provide amenities such as vouchers for meals or overnight accommodations.

Frequently Asked Questions

"The main causes for flight disruptions are bad weather, understaffed air traffic control, and factors within the airline’s control,"  says Katy Nastro, a spokesperson at Going.com, formerly Scott's Cheap Flights. She explains the following:

• Weather:  This is outside of the airline's control and is the single biggest reason for why we see flight disruptions. We saw this play out over the winter holidays in 2022, and even to some extent during the 2023 holiday season. Even if the weather is accurately predicted, it cannot be controlled, which means at times flight disruptions are unavoidable.
• Understaffed air traffic control:  The U.S. air travel industry has made strides in pilot hiring year over year, but when it comes to air traffic control, we are still down roughly 1,000 fewer air traffic controllers from a decade ago. New York metro area airports specifically have felt the brunt of this deficit, so much so that airlines were permitted to reduce schedules without penalty from the summer until the end of Q4 in 2023. At its lowest, the decrease in flights in the New York metro area resulted in about 11% fewer flights per day. With less trained staff, current air traffic controllers are stretched to the limit, and schedule reductions only temporarily solve this problem. Even with aggressive hiring efforts, training takes time and will not be a quick fix.

It's almost impossible to avoid canceled or delayed flights these days. But there are a few things you can do when booking flights to lessen your chances for travel disruptions.

Keep tabs on your aircraft: On your departure date, check your flight information before heading to the airport. You can keep a watchful eye on the flight's status – including the aircraft scheduled to operate your flight – using the airline's app or a third-party app such as FlightAware Flight Tracker (which also offers a website ), FlightRadar24 or TripIt Pro.

"As an example, if you're flying from Orlando to New York, and your plane is flying in from Chicago, the initial flight from Chicago to Orlando might be delayed (or canceled) before yours is," Ewen explains. "Airlines will try to find replacement aircraft in that case, but if you can identify a potential cancellation before it officially happens, you may be able to get rebooked ahead of the other 100-plus passengers on your flight."

Consider an alternate airport: When booking your flight, you may consider flying out of a different airport than the one you typically depart from. For example, a small regional airport with limited routes may mean less travel delays and hassle overall – or it may be worth driving further to another international airport for a nonstop flight to your destination rather than opting for a connecting flight close to home.

Fly in the morning: While flight disruptions are unpredictable, historically fewer cancellations and delays occur in the morning.

Avoid weekend travel: Fly on off-peak days like Tuesday or Wednesday. You'll often find cheaper flights on these days, too.

Opt for longer layovers: If you need to take more than one flight to reach your destination, book a flight with a longer layover to provide enough time to make your connecting flight. Keep in mind that at some airports you may need to go through security or customs for your connection. For longer journeys, you can reduce the risk of missing connecting flights by planning a city stopover. For example, Icelandair offers Iceland stopovers for no additional airfare.

Consider a credit card with travel protections: You don't need to be a frequent traveler to take advantage of credit card travel protections and perks. Here are a couple options to consider:

• Chase Sapphire Preferred :  This travel credit card ($95 annually) provides coverage for delays and cancellations when used to book flights. It also provides other travel protections such as delayed baggage coverage. "Even someone who travels just once or twice a year can still get phenomenal value from this card," Ewen says.
• American Express Platinum Card :  This card ($695 annually) offers travel insurance that reimburses some nonrefundable expenses like hotel accommodations, meals and other essentials as long as the trip was purchased using the card.

When choosing a travel credit card, you should also pay attention to other benefits. Even the most basic airline credit cards can offer travel perks like discounts on in-flight purchases and waived baggage fees, while premium travel credit cards (which require a higher annual fee) can include access to an airport lounge with food, drinks and Wi-Fi. Some also provide a concierge service to rebook flights or built-in trip insurance to cover unforeseen expenses.

Purchase travel insurance: If your credit card doesn't include travel protections, consider purchasing insurance with flight coverages – even a cheap travel policy can help protect your investment. Covered reasons include a travel carrier delay and loss or theft of travel documents, among other scenarios. If you're interested in purchasing a policy, you can browse the best travel insurance companies here .

Talk to a travel advisor: "Booking directly with your travel advisor provides more leverage and support if something goes wrong," explains Jessica Parker, founder of Trip Whisperer . "We can advocate for a better outcome should there be cancellations or hiccups in the itinerary."

Charlotte French, owner of Cavatica Luxury Travel , agrees, sharing this recent example: "My clients were booked on a nonstop United Flight from Tokyo (HND) to EWR (Newark) in business class, when it was canceled (due to technical issues). The clients were waiting in line to find other options for their return flight home; however, these were very limited. In parallel, I was able to speak to the United Airlines corporate desk (as a travel advisor) and was able to secure them in business class on a flight out of Tokyo the same day."

Avoid checking luggage: Travelers who only travel with a carry-on bag and/or personal item (such as a backpack or purse) that meet carry-on size restrictions will have the most flexibility in rebooking – and will also avoid the chance of lost luggage, another common issue. Some carriers will try to move checked luggage to a later flight for you and will make every effort to keep you and your belongings together. However, when airlines don't have interline agreements with other carriers, you'll have to allow enough time to retrieve and recheck your own luggage.

The number of canceled flights recently fell to its lowest rate in at least a decade — a welcome change for air travelers, especially following COVID-19-era travel disruptions.

Still, flight cancellations will always be inevitable, especially during the busy summer travel season. Summer 2024 is shaping up to be especially busy. "It was the busiest March on record for air travel according to the TSA," explains Nastro. "It also had the tenth busiest day on record, which is pretty significant since it is not a 'peak period' and is generally considered off-season in the Northern Hemisphere. If this trend continues, we are likely in for the busiest summer on record when it comes to air travel."

You might also be interested in:

• The Top Luggage Trackers
• Is a Travel Agent Worth It? The Pros and Cons
• Can I Use My Own Airplane Seatbelt Extender?
• How to Get Airport Wheelchair Assistance
• The Top Cheap Weekend Getaways

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Flight delays and traffic jams: How the solar eclipse is likely to affect air travel

For an inspiring celestial event, the solar eclipse could be disruptive.

The total solar eclipse happening on April 8 has a path of totality spanning parts of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada and is likely to delay flights for several days.

The Federal Aviation Administration expects heavier than normal traffic, particularly along the path of totality from Texas to New England, as aircraft and drones take to the skies to see the eclipse. Travelers may also notice limited parking at some airports.

Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.

During the solar eclipse, the moon will pass between the sun and Earth and completely block the face of the sun, turning the sky dark. Arizona is not within the path of totality, but a partial eclipse is viewable from the state.

Here's how the total solar eclipse could affect air travel and delay flights.

Where will the solar eclipse be visible? Here are the best places to watch in Arizona

Will flights be affected by the eclipse?

The FAA issued a domestic notice outlining special air traffic procedures for the solar eclipse. Agency officials expect the eclipse will affect fights from April 7 through April 10.

According to the notice, higher than normal traffic volumes are anticipated at airports along the path of the eclipse, and delays or rerouting are possible during peak traffic periods.

Can planes fly during a solar eclipse?

Yes, it is safe for planes to fly during a solar eclipse.

Some airlines even used the eclipse as a selling point, offering flights along the path of totality. For instance, a Delta Air Lines flight from Austin, Texas, to Detroit with a view of the eclipse sold out.

Those who fly through the path of totality during an eclipse should expect a darkened sky and nighttime landing conditions. According to the Air Line Pilots Association International, there may be dusk- or dawn-like conditions before and after totality or outside the path.

Should I fly during the eclipse?

There is no inherent danger involved in flying during the eclipse.

But if you plan to view the eclipse from an airplane − or from anywhere − you'll need special eclipse viewing glasses to look at it safely . Looking at a solar eclipse with the naked eye can lead to eye damage or even blindness.

Where to watch the solar eclipse in AZ: A guide to planetariums, observatories

Michael Salerno is an award-winning journalist who’s covered travel and tourism since 2014. His work as The Arizona Republic’s consumer travel reporter aims to help readers navigate the stresses of traveling and get the best value for their money on their vacations. He can be reached at   [email protected] . Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:   @salerno_phx .

Support local journalism.   Subscribe to  azcentral.com today.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Flight delays and traffic jams: How the solar eclipse is likely to affect air travel

Watch CBS News

Earthquake snarls air and train travel in the New York City area

By Megan Cerullo

Edited By Aimee Picchi

Updated on: April 5, 2024 / 4:36 PM EDT / CBS News

An  earthquake  centered in New Jersey and felt across the New York City region on Friday disrupted air and rail travel, with ground stoppages at airports in the New York City area and delays in train service. 

Travel operations were momentarily halted Friday morning with ground stoppages at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens and at Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, New Jersey, with crews working to resume normal air traffic operations. By early afternoon, the ground stoppage at JFK had been lifted. 

Arriving and departing flights in Newark also resumed in the afternoon, but delays averaged roughly two hours,  according  to the Federal Aviation Administration. 

The earthquake, which occurred roughly 10:20 a.m. Eastern time, had either a 4.7 or 4.8 magnitude and was centered near Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, 40 miles west of New York City,  according to the United States Geological Survey.

Newark airport is experiencing average departure delays of 43 minutes, according to flight tracking website FlightAware. Inbound aircraft that are already airborne are delayed by about an hour. Inbound flights that have not yet taken off are being held until 12:30 p.m., according to the site.  

Flights in and out of LaGuardia airport in Queens were also delayed, likely in order for airport staff to check for damage to the airport and runways and clear away any debris. 

The ground stoppages and delays are not expected to last long. 

Additionally, New Jersey Transit said it's experiencing up to 20-minute delays across its entire rail service system, in both directions. NJ Transit said it's inspecting a bridge for damage to ensure train travel is safe. 

—CBS News' Kris Van Cleave contributed reporting.

Megan Cerullo is a New York-based reporter for CBS MoneyWatch covering small business, workplace, health care, consumer spending and personal finance topics. She regularly appears on CBS News Streaming to discuss her reporting.

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Spirit Airlines to furlough 260 pilots, defer Airbus plane deliveries to help liquidity

Spirit airlines announced on monday that pilots would be furloughed and that deliveries of airbus planes scheduled for 2025 and 2026 until 2030 and 2031 will be delayed to be more profitable..

Spirit Airlines said they will furlough pilots and delay deliveries of new Airbus planes to improve its liquidity.

The budget airline announced on Monday that it reached an agreement with Airbus to defer all aircraft on order scheduled to be delivered in the second quarter of 2025 through the end of 2026 to 2030 and 2031.

The move is projected to improve the airline's liquidity by approximately $340 million over the next two years, according to the press release.

'I’m not being blackmailed': Travelers ask airlines to be more upfront about ticket costs

Spirit Airlines set to furlough pilots

The airline said it will also furlough approximately 260 pilots effective September 1, 2024, due to the aircraft deferrals and Pratt & Whitney Geared Turbofan (GTF) engine availability issues.

Ryan Muller, head of Spirit's pilot union, said the airline has more pilots than its operations require. The union is exploring voluntary measures to reduce the need for furloughs and downgrades, he said.

Spirit Airlines to delay delivery of new Airbus planes

A snag with Pratt & Whitney GTF engines has forced  Spirit to ground some of its A320neo aircraft. It has said the number of grounded jets would climb steadily to an average of about 40 in December 2024.

According to the airline, a recent agreement with Pratt & Whitney on compensation over their GTF engines would improve Spirits' liquidity by between $150 million and $200 million.

"This amendment to our agreement with Airbus is an important part of Spirit's comprehensive plan to bolster profitability and strengthen our balance sheet," Ted Christie, Spirit's President and Chief Executive Officer said. "Deferring these aircraft gives us the opportunity to reset the business and focus on the core airline while we adjust to changes in the competitive environment."

The deferral does not impact planes scheduled for delivery in 2027 through 2029, Spirit said.

The ultra-low-cost airline has been  facing questions  about its future after losing money in the past six quarters despite booming travel demand.

Analysts and industry officials say the airline will have to make drastic changes, including cutting flights and exiting some markets to become profitable, which is still not likely to happen this year.

Contributing: Reuters

Airbus and Boeing's problems spell bad news for the cost of your summer vacation

• IATA predicted this year will beat the pre-pandemic record for air travel.
• But both Boeing and Airbus jets are having problems that are reducing capacity.
• Some airlines are already warning that prices will go up.

You can expect to pay more for plane tickets this summer, as airline capacity struggles to keep up with demand.

In December 2023, the International Air Travel Association predicted 2024 would break records for the most air passengers ever . It expects 4.7 billion people to travel this year — 200 million more than the pre-pandemic high set in 2019.

But airlines are warning they'll have fewer seats available than they initially thought, as both Boeing and Airbus are dealing with problems.

IATA had predicted a 9% growth in capacity. But passenger airlines will see 19% fewer aircraft than expected this year, Martha Neubauer, a senior associate at AeroDynamic Advisor, told Reuters .

Southwest Airlines has paused hiring because it now expects to receive 46 new Boeing 737 Max jets, down from 79.

Related stories

And the CEO of Europe's biggest budget airline, Ryanair, warned its ticket prices could go up 10% due to Boeing delivery delays.

Additionally, United has asked pilots to take an unpaid leave in May to help mitigate delayed deliveries of Boeing planes.

Boeing has had a bad year as the Alaska Airlines blowout in January sparked increased scrutiny from regulators. The Federal Aviation Administration has limited how many 737 Max jets it can manufacture.

And since CEO Dave Calhoun announced he would resign at the end of the year, Boeing's new chairman is trying to win back customers' trust.

While Boeing has been under the spotlight, Airbus also has some problems of its own.

A flaw in the Pratt & Whitney engines used on Airbus A320neos will ground 650 jets for inspections in the first half of this year.

IATA also predicted that airline profits would be up 10% from last year. But the trade group's director general, Willie Walsh, said the average airline only makes $5.45 for every passenger.

"That's about enough to buy a basic grande latte at a London Starbucks," he added. "But it is far too little to build a future that is resilient to shocks for a critical global industry."

Watch: Thousands of bags pile up at US airports after flight cancellations

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