The prolonged U.S. government shutdown has escalated to directly compromise air travel safety, forcing an emergency 10% reduction in flights at 40 major airports nationwide due to a critical shortage of unpaid air traffic controllers.
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy stated that the decision was made out of concern for safety, citing the lack of sufficient air traffic control staff. Airlines are now urgently working to adjust their flight schedules within a 36-hour window.
This unprecedented measure comes as the federal government shutdown enters its 36th day, marking it as the longest in U.S. history. Call centers for airlines across the country have been inundated with inquiries from concerned passengers.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) plans to implement capacity cuts incrementally. Flight reductions will begin at 4%, increasing to 5% on Saturday, 6% on Sunday, and reaching 10% by next week.
These restrictions are expected to impact over 1,800 flights, affecting more than 268,000 passenger seats. Approximately 30 primary airports are targeted, including major hubs in New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Dallas.
International flights are not subject to these capacity limitations. The FAA indicated the cuts are intended to alleviate the burden on air traffic controllers, who face a shortage of more than 3,500 personnel and are working extensive overtime.
The shutdown has compelled approximately 13,000 air traffic controllers and over 50,000 airport security staff to work without pay. This situation places severe strain on the national air traffic control system.
Major airlines, including United, American, and Southwest, are evaluating the impact. United confirmed it would maintain international and key routes but would reduce some domestic flights, offering full refunds for canceled domestic travel.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), representing over 55,000 members, condemned the government’s actions, stating it is “harming the entire nation.” The union urged both political parties to resolve the conflict causing public distress.
Secretary Duffy warned that if the shutdown extends for another week, it could lead to “major chaos,” potentially requiring the closure of parts of the nation’s airspace. Airlines have also cautioned that passenger numbers could decline if the crisis persists.
The government shutdown, which commenced on October 1, has halted numerous public services and furloughed about 750,000 federal employees. Many low-income citizens are losing access to essential food assistance and basic welfare programs.
Even before these emergency flight reductions, over 2,100 flights were delayed on Wednesday alone. Major airline stocks also saw a roughly 1% drop in after-hours trading.
FAA data previously indicated that tens of thousands of flights had already been delayed, impacting over 3.2 million passengers, prior to the mandated capacity cuts. Duffy suggested that the emergency measures could be rescinded if Democrats agree to reopen the government.