Even if your itinerary doesn’t include an American destination, many flights within Canada fly through U.S. airspace. This could impact schedules following the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s recent decision.
The FAA announced it would cut air traffic by 10 percent at 40 high-volume airports starting Friday to ease mounting operational strain. As of Friday morning, over 800 U.S.-linked flights were cancelled, according to tracking site FlightAware.
These disruptions may affect Canadian airlines whose routes intersect U.S. air corridors. Travellers could experience broader flight delays or rescheduling due to reduced U.S. air traffic capacity.
The U.S. government has been shut down since October 1, marking the longest such event in the country’s history. Air traffic controllers have been working without pay for nearly six weeks, causing severe staffing shortages and safety concerns.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said he and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy “did not want to wait until the situation reached a crisis point.”
Reports from pilots citing fatigue among controllers prompted immediate action to prevent potential risks and maintain safety in increasingly strained conditions.
Postmedia Network advises readers to stay updated through official airline channels, as conditions may continue to change.
Ongoing U.S. staffing shortages and a government shutdown are forcing flight reductions, likely causing cross-border ripple effects on Canadian air travel.