Las Vegas Sun: Report: Las Vegas among 40 airports facing flight cuts due to shutdown

Flight delays and widespread cancellations threaten travelers as Harry Reid International Airport is swept up in an unprecedented crisis — federal air traffic will be slashed starting Friday after the FAA ordered immediate cuts at 40 of the nation's busiest airports in response to the protracted government shutdown.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy on Wednesday said the FAA would reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets to maintain safety as air traffic controllers working without pay show signs of strain. Experts predict hundreds of flights could be canceled — potentially 1,800 flights affecting upward of 268,000 seats, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

A source told ABC News the reductions would start at 4% on Friday and work up to 10%. The flights affected by the reductions are scheduled during the hours of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Harry Reid International Airport is among those affected, according to lists published by multiple media outlets and confirmed by the FAA, compounding challenges for Las Vegas' tourism industry, which is already reeling from an 8% visitor decline through August. The airport has recorded about 1.7 million fewer travelers compared to the same period last year.

U.S. Rep Susie Lee, D-Nev., said in a statement to the Sun that "we’ve already seen this Administration's reckless tariff policies cause tourism to plummet here in Nevada."

She added, "Las Vegas businesses and workers will pay the price for this decision to reduce flights to Harry Reid International Airport."

While the FAA and Duffy said the cuts were intended to "reduce strain" on controllers and preserve safety, airlines and airport officials immediately cautioned that they would lead to longer waits and congestion at airports, along with scheduling difficulties for passengers.

Airlines said they would try to minimize the effect for travelers.

United Airlines said it would focus cuts on regional routes and domestic flights that don't travel between hubs. Both United and Delta said they would offer refunds to passengers who opt not to fly — even for normally nonrefundable tickets.

American Airlines in a statement said “the vast majority” of its customers would be unaffected, saying “we will proactively reach out to customers who are impacted.”

Passengers should start receiving cancellation notifications today.

AAA recommended travelers download their airline’s app and turn on notifications and check with airlines for the latest information before heading to the airport. Las Vegas airport officials echoed the advice, saying in a statement that "should there be any changes to airport operations, we will provide updates as they become available."

"LAS maintains regular communication with our airport partners, including the FAA and TSA, and will continue to do so throughout this period," the statement said.

The shutdown is putting unnecessary strain on the system and “forcing difficult operational decisions that disrupt travel and damage confidence in the U.S. air travel experience,” U.S. Travel Association President Geoff Freeman said in a statement.

Virginia Valentine, the CEO of the Nevada Resorts Association, told the Sun "we are monitoring the situation closely. Travel disruptions are always a concern given our tourism-based economy, and we hope they can be avoided.” 

“The decision to reduce scheduled flight capacity, while necessary to keep our skies safe, will inevitably affect the travel experience, leading to fewer flights, longer delays and more disruptions for travelers,” the statement reads. “All government shutdowns are irresponsible, and this decision underscores the urgent need to reopen the government. … The fault for this situation rests squarely at the feet of Congress.”

Most air traffic controllers work mandatory overtime six days a week, leaving little time for side jobs unless they call out. As the financial strain intensifies, more controllers are calling out of work.

The strain is showing in the data.

From Friday to Sunday evening, at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported potential staffing limits, according to an Associated Press analysis of operations plans.

By comparison, during weekends from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30, an average of 8.3 facilities announced potential staffing issues. But during the five weekend periods since the shutdown began, that average more than tripled to 26.2 facilities.