JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Travelers at Jacksonville International Airport (JAX) on Monday were feeling the combined impact of the partial government shutdown and winter storms up north.
Flight delays and cancellations are creating headaches as millions of Americans travel for Spring Break.
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More than 1,600 flights have been canceled nationwide, including two dozen at JAX, as a sprawling line of thunderstorms stretches from the Gulf Coast to the northeast.
The storms threaten to bring tornadoes, including to Southeast Georgia, and we’re preparing for rain and lightning in our area by Monday afternoon.
But airports face another issue amidst the travel rush: The ongoing partial government shutdown is creating delays at security checkpoints as the TSA sees a growing staffing shortage.
TSA officers and other federal aviation workers are on the job without pay, contributing to long lines and delays.
And U.S. lawmakers appear no closer to reaching a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, as airlines urge Congress to reach an agreement.
In the meantime, airlines are doing what they can — holding flights and rebooking passengers — but the combination of staffing gaps, Spring Break crowds, and weather is testing the system.
Some travelers are stuck far longer than expected because of winter storms up north. One man, trying to get home to St. Louis, said his flight was canceled in the middle of the night due to the weather.
“I got up at 3:15 this morning, drove to the airport to get on my 6:15 flight, and I didn’t realize they canceled my flight at 1:30 a.m., so I can’t rebook today, so I am flying out in the morning around 6:25,” said Jim Funk. “I live in St. Louis. I think we have high winds, my wife told me we had tornado warnings, and I just looked at the weather, and it’s a 7-degree wind chill and starting to snow, so that’s kind of where I am at.”
If you’re flying on Monday, be sure to check your flight status before leaving home, prepare for possible cancellations, and allow extra time at security.