KANSAS CITY, Mo. ā The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced earlier this week that it willĀ reduce air traffic by 10% at 40 of the nationās busiest airports beginning Friday.
The FAA is reducing air traffic in response toĀ staffing shortages among air traffic controllersĀ due to the ongoing government shutdown.
Mayor Lucas warns flight cuts could have ādevastatingā ripple effect for KC travelers
Kansas City International Airport (KCI) is not on that list, but Kansas City travelers are still expected to be impacted; 32 of the 40 airports affected have direct flights out of KCIāmeaning many connecting routes could be disrupted.
As of Friday at 1 p.m.,Ā there were 33 delays and three cancellations at KCIĀ ā most of which appeared to be flights heading to or from airports that are affected by the 10% cut.
Nationally, there have beenĀ more than 3,200 delays and nearly 900 cancellations, as of Friday at 1:40 p.m. Across the globe, there have been more than 17,600 delays and more than 1,300 cancellations.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas issued a stark warning Thursday.
āIām incredibly worried,ā the mayor told FOX4. āI think this has the opportunity to be a disaster for air travel not just in America but here in Kansas City.ā
Although Kansas City International Airport (KCI) isnāt on that list, city leaders said the ripple effect could still be crippling.
What to do if your flight is delayed or canceled during the shutdown
The mayor and the City Managerās Office both said the impacts could be significant for Kansas City.
āThink about it, heavy fog at Chicago OāHare can destroy air travel almost to the whole country, and thatās just one day,ā Lucas said. āCutting 10% of flights at major airports around the country can just be devastating with its ripple effects everywhere.ā
According to an aviation analytics firm, the cuts could amount to up to 1,800 flights and 280,000 seats lost nationwide.
The reductions stem from the growing strain on airport workers and resources during the ongoing government shutdown. Many aviation employees are still working, even without pay.
āWe all need to look out for ourselves because it doesnāt seem like Washington is coming to save anybody,ā Mayor Lucas said.
You can find a full list of affected airportsĀ here. You can track delays and cancellations at KCIĀ here.
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