Source : Antigua News
The ongoing U.S. government shutdown is starting to ripple through the aviation industry, raising concerns for Caribbean tourism.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has ordered airlines to reduce flights at 40 major U.S. airports as air traffic controllers continue to work without pay.
Airports in Miami, Atlanta, and New York, key gateways for Caribbean travellers, are among those affected. While most international flights remain largely unaffected, airlines have begun trimming short-haul domestic flights, which could disrupt connections to destinations such as Antigua and Barbuda, Jamaica, and Barbados.
The FAA’s plan calls for a phased reduction in flights: 4 per cent starting Friday, increasing to 6 per cent on Tuesday, 8 per cent on Thursday, and 10 per cent next Friday. Airlines have targeted cancellations mostly among in-state routes, particularly in California and Texas, according to aviation data firm Cirium.
On Friday, about 780 flights, roughly 3 per cent of the 25,000 scheduled, were cancelled. Airlines said most affected passengers quickly found alternate flights, limiting immediate disruption.