LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Dozens of flights were already canceled early Friday morning at Harry Reid International Airport as the first day of the FAA-mandated reductions went into effect.
MAP: These airports are expected to have worst delays, cancellation until shutdown ends
As of noon, the airport showed 20 arriving flights and 18 departures canceled; the majority of canceled flights are operated by Southwest Airlines, the airport’s largest carrier. Nationwide, Southwest has canceled 129 flights and is showing 861 delayed flights, according to FlightAware, a website that monitors air traffic.
“I’m a little more than concerned,” Angelo Mastrio told 8 News Now. He travels for business every week.
Las Vegas travelers brace for delays as FAA orders flight reductions
Reid International Airport is among 40 airports across the country ordered to limit air traffic for safety reasons due to the government shutdown, which is now the longest in history. The shutdown has left air traffic controllers working without pay and dealing with staffing issues.
Currently, 4% of all flights are cancelled, which primarily impacts domestic flights, not international ones. The flight cuts will gradually ramp up to 10% by next Friday…