While many Americans are bracing for delays and alternates routes to get around canceled flights, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said flying will simply not be possible for many travelers this Thanksgiving if the government shutdown drags on.
The warning came after he announced reduced flight capacity at top U.S. Airports over the coming days due to a shortage of air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay during the shutdown, forcing many to call in sick while earning money elsewhere. So far this weekend, thousands of flights have been canceled.
“It’s only going to get worse,” Duffy told CNN on Sunday. “I look to the two weeks before Thanksgiving, you’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle.”
In response to staffing shortages, the FAA started with a 4% reduction in the flight operations at 40 major airports on Friday, which it will ramp up to 6% by Nov. 11, 8% by Nov. 13, and up to 10% by Nov. 14. Duffy said earlier that the reductions could hit 15%-20% if the shutdown continues.
That would put Thanksgiving right in the crosshairs, with the busiest time of the year to travel less than three weeks away.
“We have a number of people who want to get home for the holidays, they want to see their families, they want to celebrate this great American holiday,” Duffy said on Sunday. “Listen, many of them are not going to be able to get on an airplane, because there are not going to be that many flights that fly unless this thing doesn’t open back up.”
When asked how many Americans will not be able to see their families over Thanksgiving, he replied, “I think the number is going to be substantial.”
American Airlines CEO Robert Isom said Friday that the shutdown is already having an impact on holiday bookings.
FAA staffing shortages and reduced flights have left air travel more vulnerable to weather disruptions, which would worsen delays and cancellations. A Midwest storm is expected to drop up to 18 inches of snow on parts of Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois between Sunday and Monday.
Car rentals have surged as travelers scramble to find alternatives to flying. Demand for one-way bookings is so high that some customers have been unable to secure a car and are even turning to renting a U-Haul truck.
Other forms of ground transportation are preparing for a spike in demand as well, including Amtrak and intercity bus services.
Meanwhile, a political breakthrough in the shutdown doesn’t appear imminent. While some lawmakers have had talks, President Donald Trump signaled on Saturday that he is not willing to compromise on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits, a key Democratic demand.
He posted on social media that the ACA it is “the worst Healthcare anywhere in the world” and suggested Congress send money directly to people to buy insurance.
