WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. air traffic faces severe disruptions as a prolonged federal government shutdown threatens to impact travel during the busy Thanksgiving holiday season. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy voiced concerns on Sunday, warning that air traffic could "slow to a trickle" due to the ongoing crisis.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has initiated flight reductions at the nation's busiest airports following the lapse in funding, which has left many air traffic controllers unpaid for nearly a month. Reports indicate that some controllers have started to call in sick, exacerbating an already critical staffing shortage. Beginning last Friday, the FAA implemented a 4% reduction in flights, which is set to escalate to 10% by November 14. These cuts are scheduled from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. local time, affecting all commercial airlines significantly.
As of Sunday morning, the aviation tracking service FlightAware reported 1,375 flight cancellations, adding to over 1,500 cancellations from Saturday. Duffy noted that without timely payments, more drastic flight reductions, potentially reaching up to 20%, may become necessary. "More controllers aren’t coming to work day by day, the further they go without a paycheck," he explained during his appearance on "Fox News Sunday."
Duffy cautioned that as Thanksgiving approaches, the situation is likely to worsen. He remarked, "As I look two weeks out, as we get closer to Thanksgiving travel, I think what’s going to happen is you’re going to have air travel slow to a trickle as everyone wants to travel to see their families." He emphasized that with "very few" controllers on duty, travelers will experience significant disruptions, resulting in thousands of cancellations and widespread frustration among Americans.
The shortage of air traffic controllers has been a long-standing issue, worsened by the current shutdown. Duffy revealed that many controllers are choosing to retire early, with estimates suggesting that up to 15 or 20 are leaving the workforce daily. This trend is concerning, considering the vital role of air traffic controllers in managing safety and efficiency in air travel.
In a possible response to the crisis, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has offered to deploy military air traffic controllers to help stabilize the situation. However, it remains uncertain whether these personnel are certified to operate within civilian systems. Duffy insisted that the FAA's actions are not politically motivated, rebutting accusations from Democrats by stressing the need for safety amid an overtaxed air traffic system. "I needed to take action to keep people safe," he reiterated, attributing the current dilemmas to a mess he claims has been handed to him by political adversaries.
With the holiday travel season looming, the combination of a staffing shortage, ongoing government shutdown, and increased flight cancellations paints a troubling picture for passengers hoping to reunite with family and friends during Thanksgiving. Duffy's warnings raise alarms about the potential for widespread chaos in air travel as the critical holiday approaches.
