As authorities shutdown drags on, keep watch over MEA break journey plans

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Next weekend is anticipated to be, because it normally is, a really busy journey weekend at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP).

But as the federal government shutdown continues, disruptions are already effervescent up throughout the nation as air visitors controllers and TSA brokers are calling in sick.

If the shutdown continues, the expectations are it’ll simply worsen.

Bad timing

What we all know:

With the federal authorities shutdown going right into a second week, the disruptions are effervescent up at airports already.

It hasn’t affected MSP but, however the warning from journey consultants is that it very effectively might.

“If this shutdown extends into mid to late next week, this is going to be some pretty unfortunate timing that could have some pretty real consequences for Minnesotans who are trying to get on a plane and get out somewhere over MEA weekend,” mentioned Kyle Potter of the web site Thrifty Traveler.

Busiest time at MSP

By the numbers:

In 2024, the MEA weekend noticed practically 300,000 passengers screened at safety checkpoints.

The highest quantity was the Thursday of that week, Oct. 17. 

On that day, the airport screened 52,000 passengers, the second-highest quantity of their historical past, solely topped by Feb. 5, 2018 — the day after the Super Bowl.

What to observe

Good to know:

If historical past is a information, the disruptions to air journey are solely going to worsen.

In January 2019, sick calls by federal airport employees grew as that shutdown dragged on. It was broadly seen as a key factor to ending the deadlock, as hundreds of thousands of vacationers had been turning into affected.

“The powers that be saw the disruptions,” Potter informed FOX 9.

“They saw the delays as a result of federal workers calling out sick and said this is only going to get worse if we don’t make a deal so let’s get this moving before we upset millions of Americans with travel plans in the weeks ahead.”

His recommendation is easy: because the shutdown continues, preserve an in depth eye in your flights and be prepared.

“If this continues and there still isn’t a funding package and these problems spread to really essential air traffic control choke points across the country, on the east coast, in southern Florida, etc., that’s when we might see some serious problems arise,” Potter continued.

“I think everybody needs to be on high alert for their travel in the coming weeks.”