If you’re getting ready to travel this holiday season, be ready for some potential disruptions, as the Department of Transportation is warning bad weather could throw a wrench into travel plans.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg shared the warning while speaking at a press conference at Reagan National Airport.
“We may see some bad weather around the holidays,” Buttigieg said. “Winter weather may be a challenge, and it will certainly be a challenge in the next few weeks.”
Alongside Buttigieg at the press conference was FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker, whose agency recently opened military airspace to accommodate the number of commercial flights taking to the sky.
While last holiday season was met with a meltdown from Southwest Airlines that made traveling a nightmare for millions of passengers, Buttigieg praised the work done this year to rebound and make flying better.
So far, 2023 has had the lowest commercial flight cancellation rate in the last five years, according to Buttigieg. But the work isn’t done, as he says the number of delays still needs to come down.
Even though airlines can’t control the weather, Buttigieg says there is a “tipping point” where additional cancellations and delays are in their control.
In his first eight weeks on the job, Whitaker says he has been focused on air safety, noting that the agency is working to fill its roughly 3,000 air traffic controller vacancies.
“We know we need more air traffic controllers and are working hard to hire them,” Whitaker stated.