Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu, a Republican and former governor of New Hampshire, said Sunday that air travelers should “hold on to their patience” as the government shutdown drags on.
“People should still make plans to schedule their flights. But we always say, pack on your patience, give yourself a little more time,” Sununu told NewsNation’s “Chris Stirewalt.”hill sunday,
Airlines to America A trade association representing major US airlines. Sununu joined the organization Last month.
According to flight-tracking site flight AwareOn Sunday, 5,200 flights in or out of the US were delayed and about 100 such flights were cancelled. on saturdayMore than 5,700 such flights were delayed and more than 320 were cancelled.
However, it is unclear how much of these delays and cancellations were due to staff shortages.
Air traffic controllers and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents are working without pay amid the shutdown that began Oct. 1. In January 2019, during the most recent government shutdown, air traffic controllers increased take a sick day This caused travel problems on the East Coast.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Fox Business Average stake on October 9th delay Due to controller shortages, the number had increased from 5 percent before the shutdown to 53 percent.
Sununu acknowledged the increase in delays, but said no one should cancel their Thanksgiving travel plans.
“We’ll see where it goes, there will be some minor delays across the country,” Sununu said. “There may be a slight increase this week, but overall no cancellations [due to shortages] And safety is absolutely paramount.”
