Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and Miami International airports are among the 40 across the country that will see flight reductions starting Friday if a deal is not reached to pay air traffic controllers, according to a list distributed to the airlines and obtained by national media outlets.
The Federal Aviation Administration says it will reduce air traffic by 10% across high-volume markets, an extraordinary step being taken as the government shutdown drags into its second month.
Airlines scrambled Thursday to figure out where to cut, and travelers with plans for the weekend and beyond were waiting nervously to see if their flights would take off as scheduled. The affected airports include busy connecting hubs and those in popular tourist destinations, including Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando and San Francisco. In some of the biggest metropolitan areas — such as New York, Houston, Chicago and South Florida — multiple airports will be affected.
Miami ranks as the 10th busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic, while Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood stands at 18. Palm Beach International lands at 51 in terms of passenger traffic in the United States, and is not on the list of airports targeted for flight reductions.
Early Thursday afternoon, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood officials were advising travelers to stay in touch with their airlines, anticipating that no matter what happens, the airport will be open.
“We are closely monitoring the situation and remain in regular communication with the FAA, our airline partners, and federal agencies,” said Miami International Airport spokesman Greg Chin. “MIA’s operations remain normal, with our focus on maintaining safe, efficient, and reliable service for all passengers and partners..”
Orlando International Airport likewise has been advising passengers to check their flight status with their airline since news of the flight reductions was announced Wednesday..
“If MCO is identified as one of the airports to be affected, airport officials understand the priority is to maintain safety in the national air space system,” said Angela Starke, a spokeswoman for the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, which oversees the Orlando airport. “Since the federal government shutdown, MCO’s operations have been minimally impacted, with few exceptions, thanks to the federal airport partners who continue to come to work.”
ABC News first obtained the list of affected airports. It includes many of the nation’s major airports, including those in Atlanta, Charlotte, Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the step was needed to alleviate the strain being put on the system by the shutdown. Air traffic controllers have been forced to take side jobs as they work without pay, he said.
Experts predict that hundreds if not thousands of flights could be canceled, The Associated Press reported.
“I’m not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we’ve had a situation where we’re taking these kinds of measures,” Bryan Bedford, administrator of the FAA, said Wednesday. “We’re in new territory in terms of government shutdowns.”
South Florida-based Southwest Airlines advised passengers they will be notified if their flight is canceled, and in most cases, they will be automatically rebooked on the next available flight. Refunds will be available to those with flight cancellations who choose not to travel.
“We know that these FAA-imposed cancellations could impact an important moment in your life,” the airline wrote in a social media post. “We appreciate your understanding.”
Other airlines issued similar advisories. United Airlines noted that its long-haul international flights will not be affected by the slowdown, saying the focus is on regional and domestic flights.
Air traffic controllers received a partial check on Oct. 14 and missed their first full paycheck on Oct. 28, according to the National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
On Oct. 30, a shortage of air traffic controllers produced widespread delays, including Orlando where delays averaged nearly three hours, along with numerous cancellations.
Transportation Safety Administration officers have also been working without pay. Union officials say they TSA agents are committed to showing up to work, though some have been forced to turn to food pantries for help during the shutdown.
Other Florida airports on the list obtained by ABC News and other major news outlets include Tampa International Airport.
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Airports impacted by government shutdown
1. Anchorage International in Alaska
2. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International in Georgia
3. Boston Logan International in Massachusetts
4. Baltimore/Washington International in Maryland
5. Charlotte Douglas International in North Carolina
6. Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International in Ohio
7. Dallas Love Field in Texas
8. Ronald Reagan Washington National in Virginia
9. Denver International in Colorado
10. Dallas/Fort Worth International in Texas
11. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County in Michigan
12. Newark Liberty International in New Jersey
13. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International in Florida
14. Honolulu International in Hawaii
15. Houston Hobby in Texas
16. Washington Dulles International in Virginia
17. George Bush Houston Intercontinental in Texas
18. Indianapolis International in Indiana
19. John F. Kennedy International in New York
20. Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas
21. Los Angeles International in California
22. LaGuardia Airport in New York
23. Orlando International in Florida
24. Chicago Midway International in Illinois
25. Memphis International in Tennessee
26. Miami International in Florida
27. Minneapolis/St Paul International in Minnesota
28. Oakland International in California
29. Ontario International in California
30. Chicago O`Hare International in Illinois
31. Portland International in Oregon
32. Philadelphia International in Pennsylvania
33. Phoenix Sky Harbor International in Arizona
34. San Diego International in California
35. Louisville International in Kentucky
36. Seattle/Tacoma International in Washington
37. San Francisco International in California
38. Salt Lake City International in Utah
39. Teterboro in New Jersey
40. Tampa International in Florida
Source: The Associated Press