Air travelers could soon face serious delays - CBS4 - WHBF Quad Cities, IL-IA News Weather Sports

Air travelers could soon face serious delays

By: Jillian Wilson

jwilson@cbs4qc.com

Air travelers could soon face serious delays at airports because of sequestration cuts.

800,000 people fly in and out of the Quad City airport each year and some of those fliers say they don't want travel to get any more complicated.

"That would make me very unhappy especially since I travel for work," Liz Schwendenmann, a frequent flyer.

Liz flies back and forth to Maryland a few times a month for business.

"I've gotten very used to showing up at the airport an hour early and still fly out," says Schwendenmann.

But the new sequester cuts could seriously change that.

Shutting down towers, plus employee furloughs, all meaning longer delays.

Today, Congress woman Cheri Bustos met with fliers about how they'd be affected.

"The uncertainty, are they going to be able to make it to their trip. Are they going to be able to make it to their business meeting?" says Cheri Bustos, 17^th Congressional District of Illinois.

Bustos is also on the transportation and aviation committee and she says the cuts would make 90 minute delays the norm in major hubs like O'Hare and Detroit.

"That is something that sequestration has led to, the uncertainty not only in people's pocket books, but even in planning for their business or leisure," says Bustos.

While many blame Congress, Bustos says she'll continue to do her part to help people right here in the quad cities.

"This is budget insanity. There's no reason why time and time we should be on the brink of something like this," says Bustos.

Also, TSA workers and other federal employers could take major hits to their paychecks. Those cuts will go into effect in 30 days.