The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is telling people to check their flight's status before leaving for the airport. The move follows the Federal Aviation Administration's unprecedented order to scale back flights nationwide starting Friday because of the record-long government shutdown.
CVG is one of 40 airports targeted for flight reductions. As of Friday morning, more than 780 flights have been called off nationwide, according to FlightAware, including 26 at CVG.
CVG says you should check your flight before leaving home because it will be easier to change or reschedule from home using an airline's app or website than trying to change it at the airport. For confirmed flights, the airport is still recommending people arrive two hours early for domestic flights or three for international departures.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced in a news conference Wednesday it will reduce flight capacity by 10% at 40 major airports throughout the country to keep airspace safe. It did not specify which airports would be impacted.
Dan Gastley was flying from CVG to Atlanta Thursday morning. He says he isn’t worried about getting home this time, but he’s hesitant about upcoming work trips.
“I'm supposed to fly next week, and it sounds like it might get more difficult,” Gastley said. “They’re going to slow things down.”
Thousands of flights could be cancelled daily, CBS News reports. Many airports are seeing staffing shortages as air traffic controllers and other employees are being asked to work without pay.
John Hageman and Tate Price flew into CVG from Minnesota to catch a football game in Lexington this weekend.
“We were a little concerned on our way out here,” Price said. “We left a tidbit earlier than we needed to, I suppose, just under the pretense that TSA may not have the proper staffing in place. So, there was definitely some palpable concern about a government shutdown leading to longer security lines.”
The pair is waiting to see what happens with their flight home.
CVG’s largest airline, Delta, said on its website it's complying with the flight reduction directive. The airline said it will work to give customers as much notice as possible about any changes to their flights.
CVG did not respond to request for comment by the time of publication.
Louisville International (SDF) and Indianapolis International (IND) also are reportedly on the list of airports facing flight reductions because of the government shutdown.
Read more: