secretary pete buttigieg says flight cancellations are down after last summer s repeated meltdowns. airlines insist they are right-sized, operating fewer flights on large airlines and right-staffed. the industry has fired nearly 48,000 new workers in the last year. we re doing everything we can to press airlines to deliver that good service. if there is an issue, we have your back. reporter: airlines worry it s the federal government that could cause delays. 2 in 10 air traffic controller jobs are empty. that s 3,000 positions nationwide. this week back-to-back staffing issues in denver forced the faa to slow flights. united airlines ceo scott kirby calls air traffic control shortages his number one concern. that bleeds over to the whole system. reporter: for now, the faa has opened 169 new, more efficient flight routes up and down the east coast, even limiting space launches to off peak times. for passengers, all that matters
airport says demand is 20% higher than 2019 so high that officials are asking you to show up three hours before a domestic flight. instead of the typical two hours. there are very few off peak times right now. for us, we have been the best alternative to leaving the country since covid. the t s a says we re in the middle of the spring break travel peak. right now it s screen 2.5 million people at airports across the country on sunday that number only 4000 people shy of the same day back in 2019 before the pandemic. the big tip from travel experts try to book your ticket as soon as you can and book a flight that is the first out of the day. that way you can minimize on cancelations and delays. pete mountain, cnn reagan national airport. deep power to the swifty swifty taylor. swift fans went to court in los angeles to face off against ticketmaster on monday.
americans will fly for spring break. that s an average of 2.6 million travelers each day, expecting this spring break to likely break records for number of travelers who are getting out there and how much they re spending, given the huge demand coming out of the pandemics, destinations. las vegas, orlando , phoenix, los angeles and miami , where the airport says demand is 20% higher than 2019 so high that officials are asking you to show up three hours before a domestic flight. instead of the typical two hours. there are very few off peak times right now. for us, we have been the best alternative to leaving the country since covid. top tips from travel experts book your tickets now, if you have not already if you pick a day like tuesday or wednesday, could save as much as $150 on airfare, according to hopper, and also book the first flight out, that is how you minimize the chances of delays and cancelations, caitlin yes, that is always my
los angeles and miami, where the airport says demand is 20% higher than 2019 so high that officials are asking you to show up three hours before a domestic flight. instead of the typical two hours there were very few off peak times right now. for us, we have been the best alternative to leaving the country since covid. here are the top tips from travel experts book your trip. now, if you have not booked already also try to book a flight midweek tuesday or wednesday. that weigh hopper says, you might save as much as $150 on airfare. the other big tip here. jim and jessica is try to book the first flight out that will minimize your chances. of delays and cancelations. good advice because hopefully that plane is waiting for you there. it s already it s already sitting at the gate when you get there even though you re sleep deprived, um pete, president biden s pick to lead the faa has decided to withdraw his nomination. he they just can t