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At least seven flights have had their schedules changed in the last 24 hours.
Santiago, DR—Since Friday, Cibao International Airport in Santiago has been experiencing a series of flight delays and cancellations to and from the United States due to the crisis caused by the shortage of air traffic controllers in that country.
In the last 24 hours, the Cibao terminal has joined dozens of airports across the continent that have seen their operations disrupted, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded and causing scenes of frustration and uncertainty at their facilities.
According to a source in the communications department of Cibao International Airport, at least seven scheduled flights to or from cities such as New York, Boston, and San Juan, operated mainly by JetBlue Airways and United Airlines, have been rescheduled.
Among the affected flights are JetBlue 837, arriving from New York, whose arrival was rescheduled from 8:34 p.m. to 11:20 p.m., and JetBlue 337, also from the Big Apple, which was moved from 11:12 p.m. to 11:39 p.m.
JetBlue flight 2137, also from New York, was moved from 3:33 p.m. to 4:46 p.m., while United flight 1624, arriving from Newark, was moved from 2:53 p.m. to 5:33 p.m.
From Boston, JetBlue flight 2723 was postponed from 5:43 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
In contrast, JetBlue 1607 from San Juan maintained its scheduled departure at 4:15 p.m., one of the few flights that did not change.
A crisis that transcends borders
The disruptions in Santiago are part of an aviation crisis affecting the entire United States, with more than 800 flights canceled in recent hours due to a shortage of air traffic controllers.
The situation stems from the partial shutdown of the U.S. federal government after Congress failed to pass a budget extension. As a result, thousands of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees have been forced to suspend their duties, paralyzing much of the air traffic control system.
Although international flights, such as those connecting Santiago with various US cities, may not be the most directly affected, uncertainty persists among travelers and operators at Cibao International Airport, one of the country’s leading hubs for international connections.
