Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta is experiencing massive flight delays and cancelations amid the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, which is now surpassing 37 days. With all the cancelations and travel changes, travelers are getting some anxiety around Thanksgiving travel. Keep scrolling to learn everything you need to know about the cancelations, delays, and your Thanksgiving travel plans.
Wait… what’s going on with the airport?
The FAA, or Federal Aviation Administration, ordered a massive scale back in flights nationwide to go into effect today, November 7th, due to the government shutdown. The FAA’s plan is to reduce flight capacity by 10% at 40 major airports across the country, including Hartsfield-Jackson, since a shutdown deal has not yet been reached.
How many flights have been affected so far?
Earlier today, Atlanta News First reported,
As of 1 p.m., there have been 80 flights at Hartsfield-Jackson that were canceled and 195 flights delayed. Across the country, there were 1,238 cancellations, according to flight tracking data website FlightAware. There have already been 72 flights canceled tomorrow at Hartsfield-Jackson.
Currently, local reports indicate that this pattern of flight cancelations and delays will continue until the government shutdown officially ends.
What does this mean for Thanksgiving travel?
According to Forbes, seven out of ten Americans say they are concerned about Thanksgiving travel due to the cancelations and delays.
To help you out, Forbes compiled a list of recommendations with Chad Kendall, a professor and FAA expert, about how to mitigate the effects of the delays and cancelations:
- Book the earliest possible flight of the day – Flights departing after 9 am are more likely to be delayed, so book that early-bird flight!
- Avoid layovers – Every connection adds another potential for delays. If you do need to book connecting flights, avoid short layovers.
- Insure your trip – Consider a “Cancel for Any Reason” policy.
- Get to the airport early – just in case you get stuck in the TSA line for a long wait
- Monitor your flights – Turn on notifications and stay up to date with the latest news about your flight itinerary.