Despite ongoing talks to end the government shutdown, more flight disruptions are expected across North Texas this week.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced that the number of cancellations for Tuesday is expected to increase to 6%.
At Dallas Love Field on Monday, at least 20 flights were canceled and more than 115 were delayed. As of Monday afternoon, more than 100 cancellations and over 300 delays were reported at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, according to FlightAware.
Still, the overall mood among travelers on Monday was calm and optimistic.
This comes after senators advanced efforts to reopen the government, and President Donald Trump called on air traffic controllers to return to work. However, experts say recovery will take time.
“Flights and crews are out of place, and they might need to be readjusted. Maintenance and all of the things that occur day to day need to be rethought,” said Katy Nastro, a spokesperson and travel expert with Going.com, a company that alerts members to cheap flight deals. “It’s likely going to take a few days for that normalcy to return.”
In a press conference on Monday, National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels described the pressure air traffic controllers are facing, citing long hours, no paychecks and fatigue.
“Today, it benchmarks the first time in history that air traffic controllers and other aviation safety professionals we represent have now received two $0 paychecks — 41 days without pay,” Daniels said. “No American should ever be forced to work without a paycheck. To not pay someone for the work they have performed is un-American. Failing to pay that workforce that keeps our sky safe is not acceptable and it is not sustainable.”
Daniels also addressed the ongoing staffing shortage.
“We’re 3,800 certified professional controllers short. Ninety-one percent of our facilities do not have proper staffing,” he said.
Many travelers said they understand the situation but remain frustrated.
“It’s frustrating that the mandated cancellations have led to us spending hundreds of dollars,” said Shannon McCrae, an international traveler heading home to Toronto. “We’re going to be out of pocket for hotels and food. The airlines are saying it’s not their cancellation. It’s a massive inconvenience.”
While passengers can request refunds for canceled flights, airlines are not required to reimburse extra costs caused by government regulations or requirements.
According to American Airlines’ Conditions of Carriage, the airline is not liable for events including “government regulations or requirements.”
“When there’s an event we can’t control like weather, a strike or other civil disorder, we may have to cancel, divert or delay flights,” the website reads. “If your ticket still has value, for example, if you were re-accommodated in a different class of service, we’ll refund the unused portion to the original form of payment, but beyond that we are not liable.”
McCrae and her friends rebooked their flight back to Canada for Tuesday but said they remain apprehensive. American Airlines has already announced plans to cancel about 200 flights.
The FAA said it will increase cancellations from 4% to 6% beginning Tuesday to help alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers.
Expected cancellations by airline for Tuesday:
American Airlines: approximately 200
Southwest Airlines: 155
United Airlines: 269
Delta Air Lines: not yet released