SPOKANE, Wash. — Spokane travelers may face flight disruptions starting Friday as major airports, including Seattle and Portland prepare for an estimated 10 percent reduction in flights amid government shutdown concerns.
While Spokane International Airport is not expected to be directly affected by the nationwide cancellations, passengers flying through major hubs like Seattle, Portland, Denver and Los Angeles could experience delays or cancellations that impact their travel plans.
Local travelers at Spokane International Airport are already expressing concern about the potential disruptions to their current and future trips.
“I could see, people who travel more frequently than me, why they would have some issues with it,” said Clayton DeLaTorre, who was traveling to Nashville. “I’m happy to be going home today, because I think they’re going to start reducing [the flights] tomorrow.”
Spokane International Airport officials say they don’t know of any impacts to flights to and from Spokane yet, noting in a statement that it’s not common for airlines to share very specific operational updates with smaller airports like Spokane:
Spokane International Airport is aware of the FAA’s announcement regarding a planned 10% reduction in air traffic across 40 markets nationwide. While GEG is not among the 40 sites, we are part of a national, interconnected airport system.At this time, we do not know of any direct impact to flights to and from Spokane – and as a standing practice, it is not common for carriers to share granular, flight-specific operational updates with “spoke” airports like GEG.For this reason, we strongly encourage passengers to download their airline’s app for the most up-to-date information regarding their specific flight. Carrier contact information is also available on our website: https://spokaneairports.net/airlines/.
The uncertainty has left many local travelers anxious about their travel plans, particularly those with connecting flights through the affected major airports.
“I’m not well, and so delays negatively affect me health-wise, and I’m not really prepared for a long delay if I miss a flight,” said Brenda Bennett, who was traveling to San Francisco through one of the potentially affected hubs.
Spokane-area travelers are particularly concerned about how the flight reductions could impact holiday travel plans, with many worried about potential cascading effects on their seasonal trips.
The flight reductions at 40 major airports nationwide come as the aviation industry faces ongoing challenges related to government operations and staffing concerns. While Spokane’s airport may avoid direct impacts, local passengers traveling to or through affected cities should prepare for possible delays.
Spokane travelers said they hope that the government shutdown ends soon so they don’t have to worry about flight cancellations disrupting their travel plans.
For Spokane passengers with upcoming travel through major hubs, checking flight status frequently and considering alternative routes may help minimize potential disruptions.
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