The government shutdown may be over, and airports aren’t facing flight restrictions, but the busy Thanksgiving travel season is less than a week away.
“AAA projects 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period from Tuesday, Nov. 25 to Monday, Dec. 1.: Of those, 6.07 million are expected to fly, AAA said.
So how are Florida airports doing, especially since there remains a shortage of air traffic controllers?
Here’s how conditions look Tuesday morning, Nov. 18.
How many airline delays, cancellations reported into and out of US Nov. 18?
According to FlightAware.com, which provides real-time flight information, the following delays and cancellations of flights have been reported within, into or out of the United States as of 7 a.m. Nov. 18:
How many delays, cancellations reported today at Florida airports?
Here’s the breakdown by airport as of early Nov. 18:
APF, Naples Municipal Airport
DAB, Daytona Beach International Airport
ECP, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport
EYW, Key West International Airport
FLL, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
GNV, Gainesville Regional Airport
JAX, Jacksonville International Airport
MCO, Orlando International Airport
MIA, Miami International Airport
MLB, Melbourne Orlando International Airport
PBI, West Palm Beach International Airport
PIE, St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport
PGD, Punta Gorda Airport
PNS, Pensacola International Airport
RSW, Southwest Florida International Airport
Shutdown could cause Thanksgiving chaos: What about RSW in Fort Myers?
SFB, Orlando Sanford International Airport
SGJ, St. Augustine Airport
SRQ, Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
TLH, Tallahassee International Airport
TPA, Tampa International Airport
VPS, Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport
VRB, Vero Beach Regional Airport
If shutdown had continued, 4 Florida airports faced reduced flights
Four Florida airports were among 40 across the U.S. that faced reduced flight schedules if the government had continued. Those flight restrictions were lifted Monday, Nov. 17.
Anchorage International (ANC)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International (ATL)
Boston Logan International (BOS)
Baltimore/Washington International (BWI)
Charlotte Douglas International (CLT)
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International (CVG)
Ronald Reagan Washington National (DCA)
Denver International (DEN)
Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW)
Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County (DTW)
Newark Liberty International (EWR)
Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International (FLL)
Honolulu International (HNL)
Washington Dulles International (IAD)
George Bush Houston Intercontinental (IAH)
Indianapolis International (IND)
New York John F Kennedy International (JFK)
Las Vegas Harry Reid International (LAS)
Los Angeles International (LAX)
Orlando International (MCO)
Memphis International (MEM)
Miami International (MIA)
Minneapolis/St Paul International (MSP)
Oakland International (OAK)
Ontario International (ONT)
Chicago O`Hare International (ORD)
Portland International (PDX)
Philadelphia International (PHL)
Phoenix Sky Harbor International (PHX)
San Diego International (SAN)
Louisville International (SDF)
Seattle/Tacoma International (SEA)
San Francisco International (SFO)
Salt Lake City International (SLC)
Tampa International (TPA)
Some air traffic controllers to get $10,000 bonuses
Kristi Noem, secretary of Homeland Security, announced Nov. 13 Transportation Security Administration workers who provided “exemplary” service during the shutdown would receive $10,000 bonuses.
“Their unsung patriotism deserves recognition,” Noem said.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy repeated Trump’s pledge to give air traffic controllers with perfect attendance during the shutdown each a $10,000 bonus – and said they should get it from the president personally at the White House.
Duffy said nearly 20,000 flights were delayed during the shutdown due to short staffing.
Shortage of air traffic controllers continues
Controllers in many facilities were working mandatory overtime even before the shutdown due to longstanding FAA staffing shortages. The Department of Transportation, under multiple administrations, has struggled to attract sufficient numbers of recruits.
In March, the FAA was about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels and announced plans to hire 2,000 trainees in 2025.
Contributing: Reuters, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida airports flight delays, cancellations for Thanksgiving travel