MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. — On Day 36 of the government shutdown -- now the longest in U.S. history, frustrations are mounting and travelers continue to feel the fallout.
Air traffic controllers are still working without pay and many are putting in mandatory overtime hours.
Now the Federal Aviation Administration says it will reduce air traffic by 10 percent across 40 high volume markets.
It is not known yet if Miami International Airport or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport will be on that list .
“I feel that the government needs to negotiate and get back on track with the people,” MIA traveler Robert Edwards said Wednesday.
Travelers, like Edwards, who was heading back to New York, say they’re surprised the shutdown has dragged on this long.
“It’s going to be chaos with the airports -- a lot of delays, a lot of frustration, stress,” he said.
Miami International Airport is one of the busiest and fastest growing airports in the world with 56 million passengers flying through last year.
The reduction will mean less flights. Airlines will have to evaluate their flight schedules and brace for a wave of frustrated flyers.
And this all is happening as the holiday travel season approaches.
On Wednesday, there were 95 total delays at MIA, with 28 flights already scheduled to be cancelled on Friday.
The list of 40 airports that will see a reduction in flights is expected to be released sometime Thursday.
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