GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY — The federal government shutdown has stretched to 36 days, leaving thousands of federal employees without pay and impacting operations at airports across the country, including Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced a 10% reduction in flights nationwide, affecting 40 airports.
Among them are Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport and Chicago Midway International Airport — two major hubs that connect passengers to Traverse City.
Cherry Capital Airport CEO Kevin Klein said the airlines are adjusting to the changes and communicating directly with travelers.
“The airlines are being proactive in reaching out to those customers, so they’re rebooking and adjusting flight loads,” Klein said. “Airlines are also adjusting the types of airplanes they’re using. So when you saw air cities that might have multiple flights a day for smaller aircraft, they’re making some adjustments to use a bigger aircraft, reducing the number of flights.”
So far, many passengers have said they have not noticed major effects from the shutdown.
“I haven’t noticed any changes to the flights, per se,” traveler Megan Schalau said. “I have noticed that there are less employees in the airports, at least working security and things. That’s probably the only thing I’ve noticed.”
Nicole Cockrell, who works at Budget Avis inside the airport, said she has also heard from travelers who haven’t noticed any disruptions.
With air traffic controllers missing paychecks, Klein said airport officials have been working to support them, bringing in local vendors to discuss financial relief options and resources available to federal employees.
While Schalau said she is not worried about holiday travel despite the flight reductions, she knows others who are.
Klein said it is still too early to predict how the shutdown and flight reductions will affect Thanksgiving travel but expects this year will be different from last.