Hundreds of flight cancellations, delays at Florida airports

Fort Lauderdale and Miami airports on Trump administration’s list for more cancellations, and while Palm Beach International Airport is not, it still has dozens of delays and cancellations.

• A Trump administration order to cut flights is causing hundreds of delays and cancellations at South Florida airports.
• The flight reductions are a result of a federal government shutdown that has led to staffing shortages for air traffic controllers.
• Forty major U.S. airports, including Fort Lauderdale and Miami, will see flight operations reduced by up to 10%.
• Travelers are advised to monitor their flight status frequently through their airline’s mobile app.

Hundreds of flight delays and cancellations will hit South Florida’s airports this weekend following the Trump administration’s order to cut flights amid the federal government shutdown.

As of about noon Nov. 7, 14 flights either in or out of Palm Beach International Airport had been delayed at least 15 minutes, and two were canceled, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware. Two flights on Nov. 9 also already are canceled.

PBIA’s Nov. 7 cancellations were American Airlines flights either to or from Philadelphia International Airport. The Nov. 9 ones were scheduled to travel either to or from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.

PBIA had 79 delays on Nov. 6, more than triple the Nov. 5 count.

Flight cancellations meant to help air-traffic controllers

The U.S. Department of Transportation ordered a 4% reduction in flights at 40 major U.S. airports starting Nov. 7, gradually increasing to 10% over a week. The cuts will increase to 5% on Nov. 8 and 6% on Nov. 9 as travelers prepare for long delays and security lines.

Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Miami International Airport are among the 40 scheduled for flight cancellations. PBIA is not, but some flights either to or from it are likely to be delayed or canceled due to the order.

A total of 18 flights either to or from Fort Lauderdale had been cancelled as of about noon Nov. 7, and 45 delayed, FlightAware reported.

An additional 19 flights in and out of Fort Lauderdale on Nov. 8 are canceled, along with two on Nov. 9.

In Miami, 26 flights as of about noon on Nov. 7 were canceled and 77 delayed. An additional 27 flights are canceled on Nov. 8, and two on Nov. 9.

Fort Lauderdale had 190 delays Nov. 6 and Miami 231.

RELATED: More than 100 flights cancelled at Florida airports Friday. What we know

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy ordered the cuts, saying the government shutdown had left air-traffic control towers short-staffed.

The government shutdown, which began Oct. 1, has forced 13,000 air-traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers to work unpaid, straining staffing at U.S. airports. Congress has been unable to agree on legislation to reopen the government.

The flight reductions have led airline and travel officials to warn of losses of up to $5 billion to their industry if the cancellations continue. The shutdown would reach its 40th day on Nov. 10.

How do you check if your flight is canceled?

Travelers shouldn’t wait until they’re already at the airport to learn whether they’re affected. The most important step, experts say, is to monitor your flight early and often.

Start by downloading your airline’s mobile app and turning on push and text notifications.

What are key non-stop routes from West Palm to airports affected?

PBIA may be a good alternate airport to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, but destinations for some direct routes out of it may be affected by the reductions in flights. Among them:

• To La Guardia Airport in New York City (JetBlue and American Airlines).
• To JFK in New York City (JetBlue and Delta).
• To Newark Liberty International Airport in Newark, N.J. (JetBlue and United).
• To Boston Logan International Airport (JetBlue and Delta).
• To Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (Delta).
• To Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, N.C. (American).

Which airports are impacted by the cuts?

The FAA’s order covers these airports.

• ANC – Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport.
• ATL – Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
• BOS – Boston Logan International Airport.
• BWI – Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
• CLT – Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
• CVG – Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.
• DAL – Dallas Love Field.
• DCA – Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
• DEN – Denver International Airport.
• DFW – Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.
• DTW – Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport.
• EWR – Newark Liberty International Airport.
• FLL – Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport.
• HNL – Honolulu International Airport.
• HOU – William P. Hobby Airport.
• IAD – Washington Dulles International Airport.
• IAH – George Bush Houston Intercontinental Airport.
• IND – Indianapolis International Airport.
• JFK – New York John F. Kennedy International Airport.
• LAS – Las Vegas McCarran International Airport.
• LAX – Los Angeles International Airport.
• LGA – New York LaGuardia Airport.
• MCO – Orlando International Airport.
• MDW – Chicago Midway International Airport.
• MEM – Memphis International Airport.
• MIA – Miami International Airport.
• MSP – Minneapolis–St. Paul International Airport.
• OAK – Oakland International Airport. 
• ONT – Ontario International Airport.
• ORD – Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
• PDX – Portland International Airport.
• PHL – Philadelphia International Airport.
• PHX – Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
• SAN – San Diego International Airport.
• SDF – Louisville International Airport.
• SEA – Seattle–Tacoma International Airport.
• SFO – San Francisco International Airport.
• SLC – Salt Lake City International Airport.
• TEB – Teterboro, New Jersey, Airport.
• TPA – Tampa International Airport.

THE USA TODAY Network contributed to this report.

Chris Persaud covers transportation in Palm Beach County for The Palm Beach Post. Email news tips and ideas to cpersaud@pbpost.com.