The FAA warns flight cuts could rise to 10% by Friday as TSA and air traffic controllers continue working without pay during the government shutdown.
HOUSTON — While there’s been some movement in Washington toward ending the government shutdown, air travel remains one of the most visible pressure points, and the next few days could bring even more disruption for travelers.
At George Bush Intercontinental Airport, things were relatively calm over the weekend, but that could change soon. The FAA says what started as a 4% cut in flights this past weekend could rise to 6% Monday and up to 10% by Friday.
RELATED: FAA flight reductions: How United, Southwest, Delta, and American are responding
Over the weekend, frustration-filled airports nationwide. According to FlightAware, more than 2,900 flights were canceled on Sunday and 10,000 were delayed after the FAA ordered flight reductions at some of the nation’s busiest hubs. The cuts are part of a ripple effect from the ongoing government shutdown, which has left thousands of TSA officers and air traffic controllers working without pay.
That strain is starting to show, leading to staffing shortages at major airports.
“They’re the ones working six days a week, 10 hours a day. You can do that for a couple of weeks, but at one point you’re going to get burned out and that’s what we’re seeing now,” one official said.
Officials warn the next few days will be critical as additional flight reductions are expected Tuesday and again by Friday, just as the busy holiday travel season begins.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association is expected to provide an update later this morning on how the situation is evolving.
If your flight is canceled, United Airlines was rebooking customers. You can also request a refund. Here’s what airlines are doing during the shutdown.
The list of all flights canceled by United can be found here. Before you head to the airport, check with United Airlines.
Houston flight cancellations
MONDAY (11/10)
UA6167: 7:20 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Oklahoma City, OK (OKC)
UA4031: 7:25 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Baltimore, MD (BWI)
UA2003: 7:40 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → San Antonio, TX (SAT)
UA6248: 9:35 AM — Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA2385: 9:45 AM — San Antonio, TX (SAT) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4285: 9:50 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Laredo, TX (LRD)
UA4255: 11:55 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Huntsville, AL (HSV)
UA4363: 12:05 PM — Laredo, TX (LRD) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4975: 12:05 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Lafayette, LA (LFT)
UA4927: 12:09 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Corpus Christi, TX (CRP)
UA6152: 12:10 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Kansas City, MO (MCI)
UA4239: 12:13 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Birmingham, AL (BHM)
UA2662: 12:25 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Orlando, FL (MCO)
UA4026: 12:35 PM — Baltimore, MD (BWI) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4827: 2:00 PM — Lafayette, LA (LFT) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4361: 2:15 PM — Corpus Christi, TX (CRP) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA496: 2:25 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Orlando, FL (MCO)
UA4280: 2:25 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Lubbock, TX (LBB)
UA4905: 2:26 PM — Huntsville, AL (HSV) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4236: 2:30 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → McAllen, TX (MFE)
UA4307: 2:35 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Mobile, AL (MOB)
UA6132: 2:40 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Jackson, MS (JAN)
UA6124: 3:00 PM — Kansas City, MO (MCI) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4228: 3:00 PM — Birmingham, AL (BHM) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6301: 4:30 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Memphis, TN (MEM)
UA1964: 4:58 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
UA4290: 5:00 PM — McAllen, TX (MFE) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA2215: 5:10 PM — Orlando, FL (MCO) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4923: 5:10 PM — Mobile, AL (MOB) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4978: 5:10 PM — Lubbock, TX (LBB) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6223: 5:18 PM — Jackson, MS (JAN) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6207: 6:55 PM — Memphis, TN (MEM) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA1818: 7:05 PM — Orlando, FL (MCO) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA2114: 7:30 PM — Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) → Houston, TX (IAH)
TUESDAY(11/11)
UA759: 7:20 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Miami, FL (MIA)
UA6167: 7:20 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Oklahoma City, OK (OKC)
UA6312: 7:30 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Cincinnati, OH (CVG)
UA6148: 9:30 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Tulsa, OK (TUL)
UA6248: 9:35 AM — Oklahoma City, OK (OKC) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA2166: 9:42 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
UA4285: 9:50 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Laredo, TX (LRD)
UA4261: 9:50 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Gulfport, MS (GPT)
UA4952: 10:30 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Shreveport, LA (SHV)
UA6367: 11:45 AM — Cincinnati, OH (CVG) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6215: 11:51 AM — Tulsa, OK (TUL) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4234: 11:52 AM — Gulfport, MS (GPT) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA1764: 11:55 AM — Miami, FL (MIA) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA1719: 11:55 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW)
UA4896: 11:55 AM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Jackson, MS (JAN)
UA1345: 12:05 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
UA4363: 12:05 PM — Laredo, TX (LRD) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA539: 12:05 PM — Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4927: 12:09 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Corpus Christi, TX (CRP)
UA6300: 12:13 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Birmingham, AL (BHM)
UA4957: 12:15 PM — Shreveport, LA (SHV) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA1501: 12:35 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Tampa, FL (TPA)
UA4289: 1:57 PM — Jackson, MS (JAN) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4361: 2:15 PM — Corpus Christi, TX (CRP) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA528: 2:16 PM — Dallas/Fort Worth, TX (DFW) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6146: 2:20 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Corpus Christi, TX (CRP)
UA6169: 2:26 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Bentonville, AR (XNA)
UA4236: 2:30 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → McAllen, TX (MFE)
UA4307: 2:35 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Mobile, AL (MOB)
UA4929: 2:35 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Brownsville, TX (BRO)
UA4344: 2:40 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Harlingen, TX (HRL)
UA6322: 2:40 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Midland, TX (MAF)
UA6132: 2:40 PM — Houston, TX (IAH) → Jackson, MS (JAN)
UA6229: 3:00 PM — Birmingham, AL (BHM) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4054: 4:10 PM — Corpus Christi, TX (CRP) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4290: 5:00 PM — McAllen, TX (MFE) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4870: 5:00 PM — Harlingen, TX (HRL) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6344: 5:00 PM — Bentonville, AR (XNA) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4923: 5:10 PM — Mobile, AL (MOB) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4365: 5:15 PM — Brownsville, TX (BRO) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA1927: 5:17 PM — Tampa, FL (TPA) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA6223: 5:18 PM — Jackson, MS (JAN) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA4001: 5:30 PM — Midland, TX (MAF) → Houston, TX (IAH)
UA202: 6:14 PM — Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) → Houston, TX (IAH)
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