There were 96 flight delays and nine cancellations Saturday and at least 137 flight delays and 23 flight cancellations as of early Sunday evening at Southwest Florida International Airport.
The count kept up on Monday (See accompanying number box) with more flights cancelled or delayed.
The numbers come from a listing of delays and cancellations at U.S. airports by FlightAware, a flight tracking service.
The Associated Press reported Monday that air travelers should expect worsening cancellations and delays this week even if the government shutdown ends. The Federal Aviation Administration is moving ahead with deeper cuts to flights at 40 major U.S. airports.
After a weekend of thousands of canceled flights, airlines scrapped another 2,200 flights Monday and more than 1,000 for Tuesday.
Air traffic controllers have been unpaid for nearly a month. Some have stopped showing up to work, citing the added stress and the need to take second jobs. Controller shortages led to average delays of four hours at Chicago O’Hare on Monday. President Donald Trump pressured controllers via social media, writing “get back to work, NOW!!!”
FlightAware's RSW numbers are low compared to other Florida airports.
Miami had 367 delays and 64 cancellations Saturday and 450 delays and 88 cancellations Sunday, Orlando had 486 delays and 73 cancellations Saturday and 654 delays and 101 cancellations Sunday, and Tampa had 160 delays and 34 cancellations Saturday and 246 delays and 58 cancellations Sunday.
RSW and the three Florida airports listed reported no delays and just one cancellation on Thursday.
The FAA last week ordered airlines to cut 10% of their flights at 40 of the busiest airports across the nation to reduce pressure on air traffic controllers during the ongoing government shutdown and ensure that flying remains safe.
Four of them are in Florida: Tampa, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami.
The slowdown at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports is now in its third day and beginning to cause more widespread disruptions. That includes more than 7,000 additional delays Sunday alone, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks air travel disruptions.
Earlier Sunday, U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned that U.S. air traffic could “slow to a trickle” if the shutdown if the federal government shutdown lingers into the busy Thanksgiving travel holiday season.
WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now. Thank you. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
