As much as everyone enjoys cheap fares, including cheap airplane tickets and cheap vacation packages, the air traffic controllers union is warning that automatic federal spending cuts may force some of the countrys busiest airports to close runways causing flight delays and cancellations.
While the spending cuts went into effect on March 1st air traffic controllers will not be furloughed until April because the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is required by law to provide its employees advance notice. Most of the impact of spending cuts on air travel is thus delayed for a minimum of one month.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association says that significant furloughs of controllers at Atlantas Hartsfield International Airport would force the closure of one of its three runways. This would reduce hourly landings to 96 vs. 126 currently, a 24 percent reduction. Hartsfield handles more fliers than any other airport in the world. Houstons Intercontinental and Chicagos OHare airports may also face runway closings.
Experts warn that if Atlantas arrival rate is slowed, the entire national airspace system will suffer.
FAA employees have been notified that they face being furloughed one to two days per bi-weekly pay period between April and September. The FAA is also planning to eliminate midnight shifts for air traffic controllers at 60 airport towers, shut down over 100 control towers at smaller airports, and reduce preventative maintenance of equipment.
Flights to major cities including Chicago, New York, and San Francisco may soon face delays of up to 90 minutes during peak hours, according to the Department of Transportation, because fewer controllers will be working. The controllers union thinks delays may be even longer.
www.cheapfares.com