US Flight Reductions Spark Concern Among Airlines and Passengers

US Flight Reductions Spark Concern Among Airlines and Passengers

The US government's decision to reduce domestic flights has sparked concerns among airlines and passengers alike. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom expressed frustration over the situation, stating that while initial cuts may not impact passengers significantly, further reductions could pose serious problems.

In an interview with CNBC on Friday, November 7, Isom emphasized: 'This is a frustrating situation we didn't need to be in... The scale of flight cancellations will grow over time, and that will be a problem.'

The federal government's plan to reduce air traffic was announced earlier by Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Major airports across the US, including those in New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, are required to cut 10% of their flights starting Friday.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revised its plan on Thursday evening, mandating airlines to reduce domestic flights by 4% daily beginning at 6:00 AM ET on Friday. This reduction is set to increase gradually until reaching the full 10% cut by November 14.

According to data from flight tracking website FlightAware, over 800 flights were canceled on Friday alone, with American Airlines canceling more than 220 flights that day. United Airlines reported that half of its affected passengers managed to rebook their flights within four hours of the original departure time.

The situation has raised alarms about the potential disruption to air travel, especially as the holiday season approaches. The FAA's measures are part of a broader effort to manage air traffic congestion and reduce delays across the US.