Due to the Federal Aviation Administration's unprecedented order for airlines to reduce flights by up to 10%, airports across the country have seen delays and cancellations.
The FAA said the cuts are necessary to relieve strain on air traffic controllers who have gone without pay since Oct 1.
“We know it's difficult to work without pay, especially when you know they have families to take care of and their own needs,” said Rachel Barth, Director of Air Service Development and Strategic Marketing at the Lincoln Airport. “I think it's going to continue to be hard, especially if it comes around to their second paycheck, and they're not getting one."
Barth said there are no clear instructions to airlines of how to reduce flights.
“There's no rhyme or reason, every airline is, you know, doing it differently," she said. "Which is also difficult for us to try to track and see, you know, what ones are going to be canceled or not.”
As of Friday afternoon, four Delta flights had been canceled. One round trip from Omaha and Detroit, and another to and from New York's LaGuardia airport.
“I would just make sure and encourage everybody who is flying, especially in the next couple days and into next week, to be checking,” Barth said. “I think the airlines are trying to do their best to get that information out to people early so they know.”
Due to the ongoing government shutdown, travelers may experience flight delays and longer security lines as staffing shortages affect air traffic controllers and TSA agents. Eppley Airport is encouraging passengers to arrive at least two hours early for their flights to allow for extra time.