NEW YORK (AP) – Major U.S. airports are facing significant air traffic reductions of 10% due to the ongoing government shutdown. A list distributed to airlines indicates that airports in prominent cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are among the 40 facilities that will see a reduction in flights.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing these reductions as a measure to alleviate pressure on air traffic controllers, who are federal employees and have been working without pay throughout the shutdown. The shutdown has already contributed to more flight delays, prompting experts to recommend that travelers check their flight statuses prior to arriving at the airport.
Among the affected airports are major hubs such as Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Miami, Newark, and San Francisco. According to reports, airlines have been alerted about the situation, and travelers might experience disruptions to their weekend travel plans on short notice. Details regarding the specific airports impacted can be found in the list shared with the airlines.
The necessity for these flight reductions arises primarily from staffing shortages within the air traffic control system, exacerbated by the lack of pay. Many controllers have been calling in sick, leading to a decrease in operational capacity. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association has indicated that controllers are often required to work mandatory overtime without compensation, leaving them with little option but to take sick leave when necessary.
The flight reductions are set to commence on Friday, with passengers being notified the day prior. The duration of these flight cuts remains uncertain, as airlines, union representatives, and the travel industry have urged Congress to take action to end the shutdown, which has become the longest on record as of Wednesday.
Initial estimates suggest that the cuts could result in the cancellation of up to 1,800 flights and the loss of around 268,000 available seats. In response to these challenges, airlines such as United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have announced they would offer refunds to customers opting not to travel, even for traditionally non-refundable tickets.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has cautioned that chaos could ensue in air travel if the shutdown extends long enough for air traffic controllers to miss their second full paycheck, which is due next week. This situation marks unprecedented territory for the FAA, as noted by Administrator Bryan Bedford, who has almost four decades of experience in the aviation sector. He emphasized that the measures being adopted have not been seen before.
Staffing challenges had already been causing delays in October, but a noticeable shift occurred recently. During one weekend alone, at least 39 air traffic control facilities reported potential staffing issues, significantly above the average of 8.3 such reports during weekends prior to the shutdown based on an Associated Press analysis.
As the situation develops, travelers are advised to remain vigilant regarding updates related to flight schedules and to prepare for possible alterations to their planned journeys due to the ongoing government shutdown's cascading effects on air travel.
