Flights from Waco Regional Airport canceled due to government shutdown, City considers new airlines

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - According the City of Waco and the American Airlines App, all remaining flights from the Waco Regional Airport to the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport are canceled today.

Except for one flight that left this morning and another one coming in tonight, all the other flights leaving the Waco Regional Airport have been cancelled.

The City of Waco says American Airlines has reduced their flights by ten percent, which resulted in the cancelled flights at the Waco airport.

The Waco airport manager says that there will be one more flight coming in overnight tonight and one morning departure and nightly arrival over the weekend.

American Airlines will reevaluate next week’s flight schedules over the weekend.

One flight leaving Killeen Regional Airport headed to DFW and one flight leaving DFW going to Killeen has also been cancelled today.

“American Airlines has temporarily adjusted its schedule at Waco Regional Airport to comply with an FAA directive reducing flights by 10%. For today, all remaining departures are canceled; however, the final arrival, which is scheduled to arrive overnight, remains on time,” James Harris, Waco Regional Airport Manager said.

“Through the weekend, the airline will operate one morning departure and one evening arrival while suspending the afternoon flight, and will reevaluate next week’s schedule over the weekend.”

This comes after the Federal Aviation Administration ‘s unprecedented order to scale back flights nationwide because of the record-long government shutdown.

The 40 airports selected by the FAA span more than two dozen states and include hubs such as Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles and Charlotte, North Carolina, according to the order.

The staff at the airport are helping flyers figure out how to get to their next destination.

Whether it’s booking a rental car or another flight in another airport, Waco passengers have to think quickly on how to get to their next stop.

Airport manager, James Harris, spoke with us while he was stuck at an airport in Florida having travel issues of his own.

He was there talking with different airlines on how they could fly out of Waco’s airport.

“Were doing everything we can to try to keep our flights during this shutdown, I’m in constant contact with American Airlines to try to keep something going... I’ve been talking to other airlines, we’re looking good to get a new airline in, we probably won’t see it until this time next year,” Harris explained.

As the shutdown continues into day 38, frequent travelers are having to make last minute changes.

Delaware resident Rich Boyer came to Waco from Philadelphia for work and now had to drive back to Dallas to make his return flight, saying the Waco Airport isn’t the first time he’s had to adjust on this trip.

Boyer says the constant delays and quick changes in flights make it harder to travel anywhere.

“The unknown right, not knowing whether your flights are going to be delayed or not, if they are going to be cancelled or not, it’s kind of a crapshoot, you just got to be patient but frankly I’m trying to minimize travel at this point,” Boyer maintained.

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