Charter and Commercial Aviation Industries Demonstrate Resilience as Flight Cancellations Pile Up Amid Government Shutdown: Nov. 10th Update

(The United States of America) As domestic flight disruptions continue to pile up – with the White House ordering airlines to cut domestic flights at 40 major U.S. airports, starting with a 4% reduction last Friday, Nov. 7, and ramping up to 10% by this coming Friday, Nov. 14th – amid strains on air traffic controllers while the United States’ longest-ever government shutdown ensues, I thought it important to share not only a series of facts but also some highlights about the incredibly resilient responses I’ve seen throughout the charter and commercial aviation industries, from both personal and second-hand experience.

Photo courtesy of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

To start, about 1,780 of the 25,735 scheduled U.S. flights today (Nov. 10) had been cancelled as of this early this afternoon, and more than 5,000 delayed, per CNBC and ABC News. According to The New York Times, more than 221 airports and 1,230 routes across the United States have been affected.

“It’s only going to get worse,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Jake Tapper on CNN’s “State of the Union” yesterday (Nov. 9). “I look to the two weeks before Thanksgiving. You’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle.”

As of midnight last night (Nov. 9), general aviation operations at 12 major airports were effectively stopped, per the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) and Private Jet Card Comparisons.

“Safety is the cornerstone of business aviation, and NBAA is fully committed to ensuring the safety of the NAS,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen. “Among the ways we will do that is to ensure business aviation operators have an understanding of these restrictions and their implications.”

“NBAA stands with the rest of the aviation community in calling upon Congress to end the shutdown immediately, and for the NOTAMs to be repealed when the government reopens,” Bolen added.

Photo of business jets on a tarmac courtesy of Getty images via Robb Report.

With that said – and I can speak from personal experience at airports throughout Florida and New York just yesterday to validate news reports of seriously chaotic disruptions, unlike anything I’ve experienced since the Covid-19 pandemic – let’s dive in to the various awesome responses we’ve seen throughout both the commercial and charter industries:

The Instagram reels from passengers on Delta (NYSE: DAL) and other airlines showing the heroism of their respective pilots and crew members throughout this time are no joke – just yesterday, I was nothing short of blown away by the professionalism and efficiency of every member of my Delta flight back from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to JFK Airport (JFK), from the check-in team through the flight attendants.

• To start, I arrived to my flight 30 minutes late after my second previously-booked flight with another airline cancelled just prior; the Delta team helped to rush my bags through check-in (and me through security) safely and efficiently.
• The pilots and flight attendants on my flight stayed in communication with passengers at all times throughout our wait at the Fort Lauderdale gate and taxiing, as they assured us they would just after everyone boarded: at each 15-30 minute stop during our air taxi journey at FLL, the pilot in command (PIC) explained why the stop was happening and gave an estimation of timing until we’d be leaving the airport, explaining to the group that the delays and activity were “like nothing I’ve ever seen before,” but that we would “get through this together, as a team.”

In all seriousness, the collaborative Delta effort was amazing. Thank you.

A now-viral clip posted on both Instagram and TikTok two days ago features another Delta pilot delivering the following message: “Nothing unsafe will come between me and getting my little girl ice cream,” while giving a similar briefing to passengers as the one I heard on my flight.

Image from a now-viral Instagram and Tiktok video showcasing a Delta pilot speaking to passengers onboard a flight during the current shutdown courtesy of @sisterhoodwomentravelers on Instagram.

“In a week full of uncertainty, this was the message we all needed — calm, compassion, and confidence in the people who get us home safely,” reads the Instagram reel’s caption, by @sisterhoodwomentravelers.

Delta, United (NASDAQ: UAL) and other airlines continue to share updates on flight delays and schedule changes on social media and their respective websites.

“Our schedule changes through Wednesday, November 12 are in place," reads one of @united‘s most recent Instagram posts today. "You can find a list of canceled flights, as well as additional information on how to rebook or request a refund, at the link in our bio: united.com/GovShutdown."

As for the charter and business aviation community, let’s start with the post Solarius Aviation Chief Executive Officer Dan Drohan shared on LinkedIn yesterday (Nov. 9) in addition to the link to an AIN article about airport shutdowns across the country: “The Solairus fleet has been experiencing delays and complications – and that’s been over the weekend. Tomorrow will likely be much worse. It is all so totally and completely unnecessary. On a more positive note, it has been nice to hear stories of Solairus (and other) team members dropping off food and gift cards for the UNPAID air traffic controllers who keep us safe and moving 24/7/365. Grateful to those professionals who are pushing through this! They’re doing what they can with what they have to work with… we are not giving them much!”

Image of a Solarius Aviation aircraft posted on Instagram via Solairus’ account, @solairusaero.

Fly Alliance Director of Operations Bob Gasko explained to The FLY Report that both operations and aircraft transactions have been stalled as a result of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)’s short-staffing during the shutdown.

Gasko said he and his team have been seeing delays of five to six hours going into airports with particularly heavy traffic – for instance, Teterboro Airport (TEB), the busiest general aviation airport in the country.

“We’re working really hard along with our clients and brokers to make sure we can get in to airports off the beaten path and eliminate delays when possible,” Gasko explained. “We’ve been constantly in touch to make sure clients are up to date and in the know.”

Image of a Fly Alliance Cessna Citation Excel aircraft on display at the 2024 National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) Regional Conference at White Plains Airport courtesy of The FLY Report.

Venture Jets Executive Vice President David Posey explained that Venture’s operations have been kept in-line as his team has been constantly managing client expectations.

“Our jet card members have been unscathed, and ops has been staying abreast of everything happening – we’re managing expectations with our clients to keep everyone up to date and in the know,” Posey explained.

Private Jet Card Comparisons Founder, President and Editor-in-Chief Doug Gollan commented: "Private aviation flight providers who are getting swarmed with calls – it’s like back in the Covid days, where they can’t keep up with requests – would be wise to not overpromise, as private aviation is being impacted by these shutdowns just as commercial flights are. While flying private may be a more flexible solution, the operators are being wise in letting clients know of chances with issues and delays.”

Photo of a JSX aircraft and several others parked outside of a hangar at Miami’s Opa-Locka Airport (OPF) courtesy of The FLY Report.

As for semi-private jet operators, In the wake of weekend cancellations, JSX plans to resume scheduled domestic flights on routes that have experienced cancellations on Thursday, Nov. 13, according to search results posted on the company’s website.

Slate Aviation’s shared, semi-private flights between fixed base operator bases (FBOs) in New York and South Florida appear to be running as usual, with offerings listed each day of the week on the company’s app.

With respect to the airlines, American (NASDAQ: AAL), Southwest (NYSE: LUV), United, Delta and others are offering flexible refund and re-booking policies and procedures.

Image of an Instagram post from United Airlines’ account, @united, regarding updates on FAA-mandated flight reductions courtesy of @united on Instagram.

“Thank you for going above and beyond during this government shutdown to take care of our customers and one another,” said United CEO Scott Kirby in his November 5th Update on the Government Shutdown to United Employees. “Your professionalism and care will be more important than ever in the days ahead.”