I think there's a good chance that domestic air travel

[MineralMan]

will be curtailed by the federal government soon. Delta has already cut 70% of its domestic flights, and other airlines are operating only a skeleton fleet and canceling flights, too.

Pretty much nobody is flying voluntarily right now. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Trump administration and Congress handed the airlines a big pile of money and then ordered domestic air travel to shut down almost entirely. That way, the airlines could pocket the money, lay off everyone, and wait it out.

Maybe I'm wrong, but I think it could happen. Bad news for people who must travel, though. I worry about my 95-year-old parents having a health crisis and not being able to fly out there quickly. It would take three days for me to drive to California.

Fingers crossed!

[guillaumeb]

1. In Chcago, the Midway airport control tower has been shut down.

It is as quite in this area as after the Sept 11 attack.

Fingers crossed indeed. I think this will be a cascade of separate shutdowns, each depressing the economy.

[uponit7771]

9. +1, this should be a shock to every operations level organization in America including power plants

... and water plants etc.

[guillaumeb]

11. Exactly.

In a modern economy, nearly everything is interconnected.

Seeing these stories about the right wing preppers exposes how foolish that response truly is. Unless one is literally living apart, and entirely self-sufficient, the effects will be felt quickly.

[uponit7771]

12. +1, those guys prepping works great if they live in a forest somewhere

[guillaumeb]

13. And that is such a tiny number as to be insignificant.

Like so many gun owners, with their illusion of safety.

[SWBTATTReg]

2. And the other possibility is that you do travel out there, to see your Mom (via Air), and then ...

they canceled domestic travel by Air, when you try to come back.

Which I think is a serious possibility, unless they devise a quick test for the CV for all passengers (and we know how the Feds are doing here, w/ rump in charge). Renting a car then when they have canceled all domestic Air travel would be a nightmare.

Be wishes to you and your Mom and Dad, and family.

[MineralMan]

15. Thanks. At this point,

I'm not planning to go there unless someone dies. We were out there recently. I'm not going to risk my own survival. In the worst case, I have their estate planning attorney in my contact list, and am their executor

They're all 95 years old, so things are all understood. Most stuff is all arranged. I hope there's no need, but anything might happen. I can get there in three days by car.

[hlthe2b]

3. Yup, which is why I'm getting new tires put on before I absolutely have to....

In case I have to drive cross country.

Honestly, I'm not sure how I would feel about staying in the usual motels encountered on such a drive. I guess I could bring a gallon of disinfectant with me and "go to work" when I get there, but...

[rzemanfl]

5. Assuming cross country travel is still feasible in the coming days and months. n/t

[hlthe2b]

8. Yes. I've considered the possibility of gas shortages and absence of motels

even if I felt comfortable staying in one. Likewise the possibility of encountering communities trying to "wall themselves off".

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

4. A side effect to all this

maybe, with reduced airline flights would there be a noticeable, albeit slight, change in global warming?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. I hear an airplane flying overhead now (I'm not far from MSP) but

there have been fewer of them. There also aren't many cars going by on my street, but more than the usual number of Fedex and Amazon trucks.

Reminds me a bit of the days immediately after 9/11, when there were no planes at all until the following Saturday. This will be worse, I think, because it will last much longer. As a Delta employee (retired now) I received some Delta stock. I'm very glad I sold it a couple of years ago.

[MineralMan]

16. Yeah. I'm under an approach path. It's been quieter.

This could be the end for Sun Country. Too bad.

I can also see departing eastbound flights out my living room window.

[FM123]

7. I think you're right about that.

[wishstar]

10. American is encouraging employees to take early retirement to reduce their staff

according to American Airlines pilot I know who just got back from overseas, was exposed and in self-isolation now in NC.

[uponit7771]

14. damn ... I worked at AA ... great organization, they don't need this shit