How to navigate Thanksgiving break travel after 43-day shutdown
Some students may be wondering how the aftermath of the government shutdown will impact their Thanksgiving travel plans. The Daily Orange outlines key information about airport delays and travel alternatives. Victoria Ciszewska | Daily Orange File Photo
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Despite the 43-day government shutdown ending, it may continue to impact flights ahead of Thanksgiving break. For those travelling out of the Syracuse area, here’s what to know.
Last year, Syracuse Hancock International Airport expected to see about 100,000 passengers during the week of Thanksgiving. Although the Sunday order lifts all restrictions, flights, which were delayed and canceled, will not return to regular schedules immediately.
The shutdown caused millions of passengers to experience delays and flight cancellations. While delays continued for a couple of days after President Donald Trump signed a bill to end the shutdown, Airlines for America President and CEO Chris Sununu said flight schedules should return to normal in time for the holidays.
“Airlines cannot flip a switch and resume normal operations immediately after a vote. There will be residual effects for days,” said Sununu in a press briefing following the vote.
As airport staff were asked to work without pay, airports were left understaffed, with many calling out.
To maintain its safety standards, the FAA issued an emergency order that gradually decreased domestic flight departures by 10% on Nov. 6. These regulations applied to 4o “high-impact” airports across the country, including some in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and California, all frequent destinations for Syracuse University students flying home.
The Nov. 6 order said restrictions would remain in place until its regular funding resumed and the stress on airport systems returned to normal. On Nov. 12, Trump signed a bill guaranteeing government funding until January, effectively ending the shutdown.
Those looking to avoid crowded airports can opt for bus travel, with many bus companies expecting a busy travel season.
In a statement to The Daily Orange, OurBus’ Co-founder Axel Hellman said the company expects to see around 2,500 to 3,000 passengers for Thanksgiving travel.
In response to the busy travel season, OurBus added supplemental routes, five of which serve the Syracuse area. Destinations include cities in New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.
Many students have already changed their travel plans in anticipation of the holiday rush. SU sophomore Chelsea Wasserstrom said she’s choosing to drive to her home in Ohio this year.
Wasserstrom said she would need to take two flights and was worried about the possibility of delays and cancellations being too high.
“It just wasn’t a risk that myself and my family were willing to take again this year,” she said.
