Hawaii tourists are canceling their trips as flights are cut

"As tourists question whether to cancel their trips to Hawaii, the Hawaii Department of Transportation has yet to receive a response from the Federal Aviation Administration regarding its request to be exempt from the mandate to drop up to 10% of flights at major airports. The FAA ordered U.S. airlines to begin cutting flights on Nov. 7 to ease pressure on air traffic controllers, who are not being paid during the government shutdown."

"On Nov. 6, the Hawaii Department of Transportation penned a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy asking for an exemption, citing concerns that it's the "nation's most isolated population center" and that the island has a unique relationship with air travel - including supporting tourism."

""Tourism and related industries account for over 20 percent of Hawaii's economy and employ 1 in 4 residents. A 10 percent cut in flights would devastate small businesses, cancel bookings, and trigger layoffs across the state at a time when families are already struggling with high living costs," Hawaii's Director of Transportation Edwin Sniffen said in the letter."

""Some visitors decided to cancel entirely, while others we were able to reassure and keep on track. Honestly, this kind of disruption is the last thing Hawaii tourism needs right now. October was one of the slowest months I've ever seen, and November isn't looking much better," Bruce Fisher, Hawaii travel adviser and owner of Hawaii Aloha Travel, told SFGATE in an email."

The FAA ordered U.S. airlines to cut flights beginning Nov. 7 to reduce pressure on unpaid air traffic controllers during the government shutdown. Daniel Inouye International Airport in Honolulu was included on the list of airports required to drop up to 10% of flights. Hawaii's Department of Transportation requested an exemption from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, citing the state's isolation and heavy reliance on air travel and tourism. The department warned that a 10% cut would harm small businesses, cancel bookings, and trigger layoffs. Airlines so far have limited cancellations to interisland service, but tourists have canceled or rescheduled trips amid slow seasonal demand.

Read at SFGATE