COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) -Despite the ongoing government shutdown, Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) reports operations have remained smooth, with no significant delays or Transportation Security Administration (TSA) issues.
However, recent announcements of flight cancellations at major airports across the country have raised concerns for travelers flying to and from Columbia, with connections at those airports getting flights cancelled.
Gregg Hornsby, interim president of Columbia Regional Airport, said while CAE has not been directly impacted, the ripple effects from cancellations at nearby hubs like Charlotte and Atlanta could affect passengers.
“We could still see the same number of flights, but there could be delays later on,” Hornsby said. “That’s the part that we just don’t know right now — whether it’s for this weekend or as we go into Thanksgiving week.”
Byron Day, who flew into Columbia from Louisville to visit his fiancée, said he had no trouble arriving but is concerned about his return flight.
“When that news came down, I was a little worried about traveling because I didn’t know if my flight would be canceled on the way back,” Day said. “I’m going back on Monday.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has canceled flights at 40 airports nationwide. The news has left Day thinking twice about flying for Thanksgiving.
“My family lives back home in Virginia, and we were thinking about flying together to visit them in central Virginia,” Day said. “But now we’re thinking about just driving.”
Others, like Janice Padgett and Nikita Pete, are relieved to have returned home before the cancellations began.
“It would make me think about driving, yes, definitely,” Padgett said. “We travel annually for our work conference, and thankfully, it seems like we made it back just in time before all the craziness. I’m done flying for the year, but it definitely would make me think twice about driving wherever I need to travel now,” said Pete.
Airport officials are advising travelers with connecting flights to check with their airlines, consider purchasing backup tickets and look for nonstop options when possible. Some airlines are offering free flight changes in response to the disruptions.
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