DENVER (KDVR) — More than 70 flights were cancelled at the Denver International Airport on Friday morning after the Federal Aviation Administration ordered that several major markets reduce air traffic control.
On Wednesday, the FAA announced that 40 major markets were going to have to reduce operations after the government shutdown was causing fatigue and short staffing among air traffic controllers, who have been going without pay since Oct. 1.
5 things to know about shutdown-related flight cuts at DIA
The FAA said these markets would have to reduce air traffic control by 10%, with a 4% reduction starting Friday, then a 6% reduction by Nov. 11, an 8% reduction by Nov. 13 and a 10% reduction by Nov. 14.
On Thursday, the FAA released the list, and DIA was among the airports asked to cut flights. Now, DIA may be starting to see the effects.
Flight cancellations at DIA on Friday
Flightaware, a live flight tracking website, said that 74 flights were canceled as of Friday morning, while 119 flights were delayed. The majority of cancellations came from SkyWest, with 36 cancellations. Southwest has 20 cancellations and United has 10 cancellations. Frontier has six cancellations and Delta Air Lines has two cancellations.
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United said it’s already started to make cuts through Sunday, and has cancelled 4% each day per FAA guidance. On United’s list of cancellations affected by the flight cuts, there were more than 40 flights canceled to and from DIA on Friday. This number differs from FlightAware, as the live tracker records flights cancelled day of…