As the effects of automatic budget cuts loom, the world’s busiest airport is continuing with business as usual. Flight delays are possible, but they won’t begin arriving until next month, according to airport officials.
The impact of the automatic cuts known as sequestration are delayed for now because federal workers such as air traffic controllers, airport security screeners and customs inspectors must be given 30 days notice before being furloughed.
That’s not all good news: If furloughs do occur, they could hit airports during the busy spring and summer travel seasons, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and federal officials warn.
“That’s our biggest concern: furloughs,” said Hartsfield-Jackson general manager Louis Miller. But at this point, he said, federal officials haven’t confirmed any specifics. “Nothing’s happened.”
Airport officials are “monitoring (the situation) very carefully,” Miller said, including weekly meetings with the Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Those agencies’ handle air traffic control, security checkpoints and Customs processing at airports.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has said nearly all FAA employees will be furloughed for about one day per pay period as a result of the cuts. He said that, with fewer air traffic controllers at work, delays of up to 90 minutes during peak hours could hit major cities, probably beginning around April 1.
In additional to possible flight delays, Miller said he’s concerned that security wait times could increase to up to 40 minutes during peak hours if furloughs kick in. Customs wait times could also increase, he said. If travelers do begin to feel the pinch of cuts, he said, the airport will have customer care representatives on hand to help them navigate through problems.
Meanwhile, Republican leaders have accused the Obama administration of unnecessarily frightening travelers with talk of delays. They urged the FAA to consider other cost-cutting options before furloughing staff.
