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U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg and FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker gave a press conference ahead of Thanksgiving travel, warning of possible weather delays and urging air travelers to "please be nice."Scheduled flights for Nov. 22, the day before Thanksgiving
The aviation industry is bracing for a busy travel season. The FAA shared that Wednesday is the busiest day for air travel Thanksgiving week, with 49,000 expected flights across the country. Aviation is an industry that rebounded quickly after the pandemic, with spikes in travel nationwide. While the demand for air travel boomed, some airlines struggled to keep up with the demand after losing employees during the downtime. The airlines have seen criticism for the frequent delays and cancellations, even on blue sky days. Buttigieg said airline issues were the main cause of delays, after the unavoidable weather factor. There were also several delays due to air traffic controller issues, making up less than 10 percent of delay minutes. Still, with a number more than zero, the industry has acted, hiring more controllers and bolstering training.Buttigieg shared that 2023 has seen the lowest cancellation rate in the last five years, at just 1.3 percent. The 2023 cancellation rate is lower than it was before the pandemic, meaning millions more passengers are arriving at their destination on time and as planned. Passengers are given support, with pressure on the airlines to provide for the customers in case of a cancellation, issuing refunds and support. The 2023 year has seen more people flying than ever, with fewer cancelations and the aviation industry is investing time and money to keep it that way. Newly appointed FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker spoke next, sharing that there were nearly 50,000 flights expected for Wednesday. To handle the East Coast holiday volume, the Holiday Airspace Release program is opening up as well as the holiday Gulf routes and restricted airspace off the Gulf of Mexico designated for military flying. Initiatives like this lessen the volume along the coast and can decrease possible delays. Whitaker said the FAA has cleared 169 new, faster routes along the East Coast to shorten flight time, coordinating with the commercial space industry to ensure no launches are scheduled, opening up even more airspace in the coming days.
The U.S. Department of Transportation warns that upcoming heavy storms could lead to dangerous icy conditions. The FAA has awarded over $50 million to airports across the country to prepare for winter weather with de-icing equipment. Weather-related delays and cancellations are often unavoidable, but there is technology and equipment to help mitigate some of the potential risks. As we head into the wintry holiday season, the snow and ice could create greater risk with the upcoming December holidays.RELATED STORIES:FAA 'Hallo-memes' meant to combat frightening passenger behaviorA look at flight deck security after pilot arrested for shut-down threat
Whitaker reminds passengers one important thing when traveling this season - be nice. Unruly passenger behavior has become a large problem across the country, with the number of reports leaping by nearly 500 percent from 2020 to 2021. The number has dropped substantially since the 2021 high but is still well above the pre-pandemic numbers. Incidents like airdropping a bomb threat, physical abuse, trying to open the door or shut off the engine midflight have created a national stir and reminded some that your behavior is an important part of flight safety. The FAA takes unruly behavior seriously and will impose fines of up to $37,000 per violation and some incidents will be handed over to local law enforcement or the FBI.
"If you're flying, please be nice to your flight crew," he said. "They're there for your safety."