Photo: M_D_A / iStock / Getty Images
(Des Moines, IA) -- Four thousand flights will be canceled today through Tuesday as the Department of Transportation tries to ease the pressure on Air Traffic Controllers due to the government shutdown. Des Moines International Airport is not on the list of 40 major U.S. airports cutting flights by 10% starting today due to the ongoing government shutdown. However, travelers flying through DSM could still face disruptions.
Heading into a busy holiday travel season, the concern for Des Moines is that while DSM itself isn’t affected directly, many of its routes connect to airports that are on the FAA’s reduction list, including hubs like Chicago O’Hare, Denver, Atlanta, and Charlotte.
“We really just encourage travelers to pay attention to their airline app and watch for emails from their airline, because that’s most likely how they’ll find out if their flight has been affected,” said Brian Mulcahy, CEO of the Des Moines Airport Authority.
Despite the government shutdown there has been no lapse in coverage from TSA agents or air traffic controllers.
“Despite not being paid, they’ve all continued to show up and do the work that’s needed to keep everyone moving, so we really appreciate that,” Mulcahy added.