Khaberni - The Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission said that any major disturbance in the American airports will affect international air traffic in general, including Jordan, at a time when US Transportation Secretary Sean Davy warned of "total chaos" and numerous flight delays due to the government shutdown that lasted nearly 40 days.
The commission explained that the direct impact usually affects the travelers more than the systems, stating that in most previous cases of failures or partial shutdowns (like the technical malfunction in the NOTAM aviation information system), the technical and procedural systems of the commission are not affected, as airports function normally.
It added that the impact falls on the movement of travelers, especially those who rely on domestic American flights to reach international departure airports heading to Amman (like New York, Chicago, or others).
It also indicated that airlines might be forced to delay their flights from American airports to enable late transit passengers due to the internal disturbance to catch their flight, pointing out that in cases of complete and prolonged paralysis, some scheduled flights might be canceled to preserve operational safety and protect the travelers, and travelers would be rescheduled according to airline procedures.
Regarding the commission’s procedures concerning prolonged shutdowns or complete paralysis of American airports, it clarified that, as the responsible regulatory body, it always places aviation safety and security and passengers' rights at the forefront of its priorities.
It added that its procedures are based on regulatory and operational aspects, focusing on passengers' rights.
It explained that it maintains immediate and continuous communication with airlines operating flights between Jordan and the United States to monitor the latest developments and the status of the flights, and it obliges airlines to immediately inform the passengers of any changes in flight schedules, which is a fundamental right of the passenger according to the enforceable consumer protection regulations.
The commission affirmed that it monitors the airlines' compliance with providing necessary care to delayed passengers, such as food, drink, and accommodation when necessary, according to these instructions and especially if the delay lasts for several hours.
About Jordanian measures in case of "paralysis of the airports in the United States", the commission said that "it is a hypothesis we hope does not occur - then the Jordanian measures would be a direct response to the nature and extent of this paralysis".
It explained that the measures would involve reassessing the operational situation so that the impact of this paralysis on aviation safety is immediately evaluated, and regional and international coordination with international partners and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to facilitate air travel to alternative destinations or use air routes that are not affected by the American situation, but direct flights to the United States will be contingent on the restoration of American airports to their function.
US President Donald Trump accused the Democrats of being ready to destroy the United States, as the government shutdown entered its 36th day on Wednesday, exceeding the previous record set during the first term of the Republican leader.
The shutdown began on the first of October when Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on a temporary spending plan to maintain government funding.
Since then, about 1.4 million federal employees, from air traffic controllers to park rangers, have been on mandatory leave or working without pay. Some courts are using emergency funds to keep their doors open, warning that their activities could slow down if the shutdown continues.
