HOUSTON – Flight cancellations by United Airlines are mounting at Houston’s airports as part of a federally mandated reduction in air traffic tied to the ongoing government shutdown.
The directive, issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), requires airlines to cut domestic flights at 40 high-volume U.S. airports between Nov. 9 and Nov. 11, with some flights to and from Houston already impacted.
The FAA order, designed to relieve stress on the national air-traffic system, is being enforced even at Houston’s hubs. The cancellations coincide with the shutdown of federal operations, which has left many controllers unpaid and fatigued.
United Airlines has canceled dozens of flights at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) this weekend.
According to United, six flights were canceled on Nov. 9, followed by 34 on Nov. 10 and 44 on Nov. 11. The cancellations affected flights departing from or arriving in Houston, primarily on domestic and regional routes.
This comes after the Trump administration directed airlines to cut six percent of flights at 40 major airports by Tuesday and 10 percent by Friday. Trump said this is an effort to ease the strain on air traffic controllers who have been working without pay.
Air traffic control staffing shortages caused a temporary ground stop on Sunday at Newark, where the FAA reported delays averaged more than two hours.
The airline said long-haul international and hub-to-hub flights will not be affected by the reductions.
Passengers are encouraged to check their flight status on the United app or website before traveling.
Although there are signs the government shutdown could soon end after the Senate advanced a test vote — the first step toward passing compromise legislation to fund the government — Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said air traffic controllers will not return immediately, as it will take time to restore normal operations.
United Airline statement
“We thank the Senators who voted tonight to advance legislation to reopen the Federal government and provide funding for our essential air traffic controllers and TSA officers, who have worked tirelessly without pay for over a month. Our customers and employees have experienced firsthand the negative impact of the shutdown and staffing shortages causing flight delays, disruptions and cancellations. It is critical that the Senate quickly send this legislation to the House and the House pass it as soon as possible, so that government can reopen and reliable air travel can resume as we near the busy holiday travel season.”
FAA mandated flight cancellations
United has published a list of all our FAA mandated flight cancellations though Tuesday (11/11) on a special page on our website: United.com/govshutdown. Please feel free to point your audiences there for the latest United information and encourage travelers to download the United app for updates.
Important reminders
United’s hub-to-hub and international flights are not impacted by this schedule reduction.
We encourage all customers to download the United app for the most seamless travel experience, including real-time notifications, rebooking options, and support directly from their mobile device.
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