COLUMBIA – Thought the Columbia Metropolitan Airport hasn’t faced direct orders from the Federal Aviation Administration to reduce flights amid the ongoing government shutdown, the Midlands airport is still feeling the effects of the nationwide reduction in air travel.

U.S. airlines began canceling hundreds of flights Nov. 7 following the FAA‘s unprecedented order to to scale back nationwide and the impact is starting to hit South Carolina travelers.

The FAA directed all carriers to reduce their domestic flight schedules by 4 percent at 40 of the busiest U.S. airports as a way to relieve the strain on the national aviation system as the record-long government shutdown rolls into day 38, and most likely beyond.

By mid-morning, major carriers American Airlines canceled 220 flights while

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