Jimmy Bass was in town to celebrate his son’s Air Force graduation and now he’s worried about whether he’ll make it back home to Charlotte in time for work.
SAN ANTONIO — Operations are running mostly smooth at San Antonio International Airport, even as air travel across the country feels the strain from the ongoing government shutdown.
San Antonio isn’t one of the 40 airports where the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been forced to reduce flights, but travelers here could still feel the ripple effects.
The FAA noted the nationwide flight cuts are vital to keep the skies safe as the government shutdown drags on. A shortage of air traffic controllers has made it challenging to keep normal flight levels running safely, sparking the agency to scale back operations.
San Antonio has avoided major disruptions. Most flights are taking off on time, though there were a couple cancellations on Friday, including one destined for Dallas-Fort Worth.
Jimmy Bass, who was in town to celebrate his son’s Air Force graduation, noted the uncertainty adds another layer of stress for his family.
“We’re heading into Charlotte from here,” Bass said. “We’re concerned because that’s on the list. Things were flowing this morning, but we’ll see how it goes later today.”
Bass’s son is also among the several federal employees not getting paid during the shutdown.
“We’re just hoping everything goes smoothly,” Bass said.
Ryan Daliege, flying home to Phoenix after a work trip, showed up early just in case.
“I saw the reports about long TSA lines,” Daliege said. “Now my flight’s delayed three hours. Hopefully people in charge (Washington lawmakers) are talking to each other and get things resolved.”
While San Antonio flyers haven’t seen the chaos hitting other airports, many say they’re keeping a close eye on travel updates, especially with Thanksgiving just around the corner.
For now, airport officials are advising passengers to arrive early, double check flight times, and prepare for possible changes.