WASHINGTON: The United States ordered major flight reductions at some of its busiest airports on Thursday, as the country’s prolonged government shutdown entered its 36th day, threatening to disrupt travel for millions of Americans ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said he had instructed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reduce domestic flight operations by up to 10% at 40 major airports due to mounting air traffic control safety concerns.
“Our job is to make the hard decisions needed to keep the airspace safe,” Duffy said at a press briefing on Wednesday, citing an internal safety assessment that found controllers were under severe strain.
The FAA, which has been operating with about 3,500 fewer air traffic controllers than needed, said the cuts would start at 4% on Friday, rising gradually to 10% next week if the shutdown continues.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the decision was necessary to prevent “pressures from deteriorating further,” adding that the system remained safe but was “under unusual stress.”
Longest shutdown in US history
The shutdown, now the longest in US history, has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 security screeners to work without pay. Unions say many are exhausted, stressed, or forced to take second jobs.
About 1.4 million federal employees have either been furloughed or are working without pay as Congress remains deadlocked over a funding bill. The dispute has closed much of the federal government since October 1.
Officials said the flight reductions, which will mostly affect domestic routes, are designed to reduce workload at key airports including Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Dallas, Denver, and New York City. International flights are expected to continue as scheduled.
Aviation analytics firm Cirium estimated that up to 4,000 flights and 268,000 seats could be affected each day once the cuts reach full scale.
Airlines scramble to adjust
Airlines rushed to adjust schedules and respond to customer concerns. Delta Air Lines said it would comply with the directive but expected to operate most of its flights as planned.
United Airlines confirmed it would prioritise long-haul and hub-to-hub operations while cutting some regional routes.
“Any customer travelling during this period is eligible for a refund if they do not wish to fly,” United CEO Scott Kirby told employees.
American Airlines said it expected minimal disruption, while Southwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines said they were assessing how the restrictions would affect services.
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, representing 55,000 crew members, called the shutdown “a cruel attack on all Americans.”
Its president, Sara Nelson, said: “This false narrative that workers must choose between pay and healthcare is outrageous. Both crises were created by those who can fix it.”
Holiday travel at risk
Industry analysts warned that the cuts could wreak havoc on Thanksgiving travel plans, one of the busiest periods of the year.
Airlines estimate that 3.2 million travellers have already been affected by delays since the shutdown began.
“This threatens to throw holiday plans into chaos,” said David Morrison, senior market analyst at Trade Nation UK. “If it goes on much longer, the economic impact could be serious.”
Transportation Secretary Duffy said the cuts could be reversed “if Democrats agree to reopen the government.”
The White House has accused Democrats of stalling budget talks, while Democrats blame Republicans for refusing to negotiate over healthcare funding.
FAA warns of further restrictions
The FAA said more restrictions could follow if staff shortages worsen. Bedford warned that “if we allow this to go unchecked, we cannot continue to say we operate the safest air system in the world.”
According to Reuters, the government is expected to release the full list of affected airports later on Thursday.
Meanwhile, airline shares fell about 1% in after-hours trading amid concerns of declining bookings.
Analysts said the cuts could reduce total airline capacity by up to 3% in the fourth quarter if the shutdown continues through year-end.
Despite assurances that safety remains intact, air traffic controllers say morale is collapsing. One controller told NPR that “this is the point where people are getting fed up,” while another said the strain was “eroding the margin of safety” as controllers are forced to work multiple shifts.
