Air travel could get even tricker today as the FAA is set to implement a 6% reduction in flights nationwide, up from 4%. And air traffic controllers have now missed a second payday.
Phoenix Sky Harbor has seen hundreds of delays and cancellations since the FAA ordered a reduction in flights last week. On Monday, the agency expanded flight restrictions to include business aircraft and many private flights.
Scottsdale Airport and Mesa Gateway told KJZZ that they anticipate being able to accommodate any general aviation traffic, which includes those business, private and charter flights.
Mesa Gateway says it has not been hit by flight disruptions or cancellations — yet. A spokesperson said that their air traffic controllers are contractors, so they are still getting paid.
National Air Traffic Controllers Association President Nick Daniels says no American should ever be forced to work without pay.
“We use the term ‘call in sick’ so loosely with the federal workforce that are the accepted employees that have to show up. They’re facing real issues,” he said. “We have letter after letter talking about the impacts this shutdown — that it’s having on them. That they can’t pay for gas to get to work.”
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Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs says she won’t give in to the Trump administration’s threat to withhold SNAP funding unless states hand over data about the program’s recipients. -
Kyle Wilkerson, program coordinator for air traffic control at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, joined The Show to talk more about how the shutdown affected Arizona controllers. -
The Trump administration is threatening to withhold SNAP funding from more than 20 states, including Arizona, that have refused to share data about residents who benefit from the food assistance program, citing privacy and concerns with how the federal government will use that information. -
In July, Congress removed homelessness as an exemption to work requirements under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The law took effect Nov. 1, with a three-month grace period. -
A Phoenix-area food bank says it has continued to see increased demand for help, even after the end of the government shutdown restored funding for federal food assistance.
