The Federal Aviation Administration is limiting private flight operations at a dozen airports, including DFW International, as the government shutdown continues to snarl commercial flight traffic nationwide.
The flight restrictions went into effect at 11 p.m. on Sunday, according the National Business Aviation Association trade group. In addition to DFW, the list of affected airports includes some of the busiest travel hubs in the U.S., including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport and more. Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport is also included.
DFW’s closure to business aircraft was listed on the FAA’s National Airspace System Status website. DFW Airport is the central hub of Fort Worth-based American Airlines.
“Today, further restrictions were announced that will effectively prohibit business aviation operations at 12 of those airports, disproportionately impacting general aviation, an industry that creates more than a million jobs, generates $340 billion in economic impact and supports humanitarian flights every day,” Ed Bolen, NBAA’s president, said in a statement.
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“Safety is the cornerstone of business aviation, and NBAA is fully committed to ensuring the safety of the NAS. Among the ways we will do that is to ensure business aviation operators have an understanding of these restrictions and their implications.”
Lawmakers cleared a key hurdle to ending the shutdown Sunday with a deal to advance a funding bill, but it’s unclear how quickly the government could reopen and how quickly relief could come to the air safety system.
The NBAA said “limited exceptions” to the restrictions will be made for based aircraft, emergency, medical, law enforcement, firefighting and military operations, or unless authorized by the FAA. The organization advised business aircraft operators to be prepared for delays and restrictions at any of the 40 airports where flight operations were impacted by the FAA’s emergency order.
Media representatives for DFW Airport did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The FAA did not immediately respond beyond an automated message explaining the agency’s decision to proactively cut flights.
The increased flight restrictions come as commercial aviation operations continue to be disrupted amid federal staffing shortages. The FAA warned that a ground stop or delay could be issued at six major U.S. airports on Monday. Flight cancellations have been mounting after the FAA ordered airlines to cut flights at 40 major airports to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers, who are working without pay.
The U.S. had more than 2,900 cancellations and over 10,000 delays on Sunday, according to FlightAware, a flight tracking website. American and Dallas-based Southwest Airlines had 326 and 246 cancellations, respectively.
Monday could be more of the same. By 6:30 a.m., there were 83 cancellations at DFW and 21 cancellations at Love Field, the headquarters of Southwest.
The FAA is expected to increase the cuts from 4% to 6% if the government isn’t reopened by Tuesday. If the shutdown continues into Friday, the cuts will reach 10%.
“Above all, this moment underscores the need to reopen the government to serve all Americans,” Bolen said. “NBAA stands with the rest of the aviation community in calling upon Congress to end the shutdown immediately, and for the NOTAMs to be repealed when the government reopens.”
More than 100 flights at DFW, Love Field canceled again Monday
There were more than 1,600 cancellations Monday nationwide as shutdown nears possible end.
What to do if your flight at Love Field, DFW Airport gets canceled
Flight cuts are anticipated to climb next week and peak by Nov. 14.