SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The government shutdown is passing 36 days now, breaking all previous records.
The FAA is reporting they will be scaling back the number of flights at 40 major airports and San Diego International is one of them.
“There are looking at perhaps having less air traffic controllers available to work the airspace. So, if they close a portion of it, the capacity is reduced but the capacity then is based on their ability to control the skies safely,” said Jim Kidrick, the president of the San Diego Air & Space Museum.
The Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy says 10 percent less of the airspace will be covered by air traffic controllers.
“Let’s just say they have ten air traffic controllers, now they only have nine, it’s been reduced by 10 percent. Well the airspace should be perhaps ten percent less, so it’s a capacity issue,” Kidrick said.
Anlleyn Venegas, Senior Public Affairs Specialist for Auto Club of Southern California, said you should consider driving if you’re worried about cancelations and if your destination is within driving distance.
With transportation secretary warning of chaos through the holidays, AAA is warning travelers to be prepared for whatever is to come.
“Download your airlines app and turn on notifications just in case there are any delays, any cancelations due to air traffic control staff shortages,” Venegas said.
Kidrick wants to stress that if the transportation department didn’t reduce their flights, that would be the thing that would make him worried.
“They want to be safe and that really is the ultimate goal,” he said.
