SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - ABC News has obtained the list of airports impacted by the FAA cuts, which will begin Friday. San Diego International Airport is one of 40 major hubs across the United States that will face reduction in flights, according to their sources.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced Wednesday the airports will start to see the reduction in service starting Friday if the shutdown isn't lifted by then. ABC News reports the cuts will start at 4% on Friday and work up to 10%. The impacted flights are scheduled between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m.
International flights are not subject to these cuts. ABC News' source added the final list, which will be issued Thursday, will include complete details about the FAA's order.
“It feels like a stunt. It really does feel like a political stunt," said Anthony Riehm, who was departing from SAN on Wednesday. "So much does these days."
“That’s going to seriously disrupt the economy and that’s going to seriously disrupt the lives of people," added Coral Cook, another traveler.
Before the final list is released, ABC 10News reached out to the San Diego Airport Authority for clarification on the local impact. A representative replied, "when we receive additional information, we can check back in with your team."
Across the country, though, this means thousands of flights could be cut per day, and countless more delays.
San Diego International alone saw 338 delays last Sunday, citing operations that "are, at times, being affected by the federal government shutdown," which became the longest in U.S. history on Wednesday at 36 days.
“It does feel like it’s being used as a…like a really aggressive bargaining chip, especially as we’re entering the holiday season," Riehm said. "I don’t know, we’ll just have to see what happens I guess.”
Thanksgiving travel is expected to set records, with 31 million passengers flying over the holiday according to Airlines for America.
The newly announced cuts and ongoing cancellations and delays are happening largely in part of major staffing shortages within Air Traffic Control. Duffy said ATC is down 2,000 controllers during the shutdown, and those who are still working are doing so without pay.
The same goes for Transportation Security Administration agents.
"Is the shutdown worth the impacts and ripple effect we've seen happen as a result?" ABC 10News asked traveler Haley Merritt, flying home to New York Wednesday.
“I’d rather have a delayed plane than no health care, so I guess," Merritt said. "I think it’s hard and that’s easy for me to say, too, as a worker not impacted by this. So, it’s hard.”
“Yeah, that’s really rough," Cook said. "I’m not sure how long they’ll continue to do it, especially since it’s the longest shutdown ever, and it doesn’t seem like there’s an end in sight.”
The FAA told ABC News each airline's flight schedules will be "proportionate."
The full list of airports is below, which includes SAN, LAX and SFO:
- Anchorage International
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
- Boston Logan International
- Baltimore/Washington International
- Charlotte Douglas International
- Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
- Dallas Love
- Ronald Reagan Washington National
- Denver International
- Dallas/Fort Worth International
- Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
- Newark Liberty International
- Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International
- Honolulu International
- Houston Hobby
- Washington Dulles International
- George Bush Houston Intercontinental
- Indianapolis International
- 1New York John F Kennedy International
- Las Vegas McCarran International
- Los Angeles International
- New York LaGuardia
- Orlando International
- Chicago Midway
- Memphis International
- Miami International
- Minneapolis/St Paul International
- Oakland International
- Ontario International
- Chicago O`Hare International
- Portland International
- Philadelphia International
- Phoenix Sky Harbor International
- San Diego International
- Louisville International
- Seattle/Tacoma International
- San Francisco International
- Salt Lake City International
- Teterboro
- Tampa International
